Today is September 9, the Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest.
We read at today’s Mass, “Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles” (Lk 6:12-16).
Though Carlo was admired for his intelligence and talent with computers, he remained deeply humble. He did not seek recognition or praise but often repeated, “Not I, but God.” His humility was also tested in smaller, hidden ways. Friends sometimes mocked him for attending daily Mass. Yet Carlo accepted their teasing with quiet patience. He never lashed out, defended himself harshly or abandoned his devotion.
This humility reflects the heart of Christ, who “humbled himself, becoming obedient to death” (Phil 2:8). For Carlo, humiliation became a chance to imitate Jesus. He knew that faith was not about popularity but fidelity. His strength was not in asserting himself but in letting Christ shine through him.
Humility and simplicity
Carlo writes, “In order to promote this development, which allows the kernel to become a stalk and grain, we need to practice two virtues: humility and simplicity. Humility which is truth, humility which is reality, humility which does not consist in scorning ourselves, but rather in feeling that we are beneath God. God, and then us.”
In our world, where image and reputation often seem to matter most, Carlo’s humility is countercultural. It challenges us to care less about how others perceive us and more about what God desires. To be mocked for prayer or for living differently is not a defeat but a hidden victory.
Humility is not weakness — it is freedom. Carlo shows us that by stepping aside, we make room for God’s greatness.
Let us pray,
O God, who made Saint Peter Claver a slave of slaves and strengthened him with wonder, charity and patience as he came to their help, grant, through his intercession, that, seeking the things of Jesus Christ, we may love our neighbor in deeds and in truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
