The Humility of Joseph Vaz and its relevance for every Christian

HUMILITY OF JOSEPH VAZ AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN

* Fr. Saturnino Colaco

Introduction

One of the primary concerns for the integral formation and growth of a Christian is the cultivation and promotion of the virtue of humility. Humility is a hallmark of a Christian. It pervades all the spheres of our lives. The Christian vocation is a vocation to conform to Christ who lived in humility in relation to his Father and in relation to the whole creation.

Humility is not pretending to be what one is not. In pretension there is incoherence between what the person is internally and what is manifested externally. Wanting to look humble is false humility. Humility is neither exaggeration nor underestimation. According to Thomas Aquinas, humility is reverence that bows down before God. For Mother Teresa, humility is a state of indifference where one is neither affected by praise nor by disgrace.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate definition of humility. The perfect model for humble living is Jesus Christ, who refused to cling to divine status (cf. Phil 2:5-9), came not to be served but to serve (cf. Mt 20:28), and remained always open to the will of his Father till his death on the Cross (cf.

Lk 22:42). Our humility is the imitation of the humility of God revealed in and through Jesus. Conforming to his way of life is the call addressed to every Christian. Thus, it is a movement from self-will to God’s will, from being self centered to being other centered, and from self-love to self-emptying love.

Saint Joseph Vaz, the patron saint of Goa, whose feast we celebrate on the 16″ of January, inspires all of us to live a humble life.

1. Humility before God

The humble people rely on God for they know that without God nothing is possible. Joseph Vaz is a person of God.

His love for the sacraments, visit to the Blessed Sacrament, daily rosary, commitment to personal prayer till late night, taste for spiritual reading, manifest his humility before God. “Christ is the Sun, we are the moon” is the advice Joseph Vaz gives to his nephew in a letter written to him on August 17, 1708, from Kandy. It is a letter in answer to his nephew’s request for spiritual counsel. It is an advice to remain humble before Christ.

Just as the moon does not have its own light but receives it from the sun and reflects it on the earth, so does every Christian. Christ is the source of our light which we receive and project on to others.

Joseph Vaz was aware of his weaknesses. In humility, he acknowledges his shortcomings before God trusting in God’s unconditional love and mercy. In one of his letters he says, “With regard to my soul, only God knows my lack of zeal, generosity, love of God and neighbor, and how imperfect are my actions. I feel that in the past I have not made sufficient progress but I hope to advance in the future for even now I find that I do not act without committing some evident defect.”

2. Humility before People

a) Superiors and companions on the journey

Obedience is a choice under humility. It is God centered, love-filled and mission focused. Joseph Vaz believed that God communicates through the superiors and obedience to them is obedience to God’s will. At every step, he followed God’s will revealed through others. When he was appointed Vicar Forane of the Archbishop of Goa and was asked by the Cathedral Chapter to go to Kanara instead of Ceylon, he humbly accepted it after consulting his spiritual guide. Seeking advice and bending to the will of God revealed through superiors is a sign of humility.

Joseph Vaz is aware of the pride that one can fall upon relying on one’s own efforts and upon seeking one’s own will. Therefore, he is open for correction and guidance. In his letter addressed to the superior of the Oratory at Goa, from Jaffna, Joseph Vaz says,

“For the correction of my faults, and for the growth of my spiritual life, I would like very much to return to the life of the Convent and live there for some time under the eyes of my Superiors and of my brothers.” His humility is so deep that he even goes to the extent of telling his superiors to order him. In his letter to the Oratorians from Puttalam, he says, “Order me whatever you think is proper that I should do because, though I am not worthy to be called your brother and son, vet as a subject, feel bound and desire to carry out all the orders of my Superiors.” Humility makes one open to other’s suggestions. It destroys an attitude of self-righteousness and smashes the false claim of knowing everything.

b) Political authority

Joseph Vaz lived among the Dutch Calvinists and the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. His humble life and peaceful nature won the hearts of many, especially, Vimaladharma, the king of Kandy who had arrested Joseph Vaz suspecting him of being a Portuguese spy, eventually welcomed him and granted permission to preach Catholic faith. That humble approach can transform foes into friends is exemplified by Joseph Vaz.

c) Lay People-Christians and people of other faiths To win everyone for Christ, Joseph Vaz, a person of high social status took the form of the poor; a person who always wore shoes walked barefoot; a person who received service at the hands of the servants at home became a beggar; a person who had plenty to eat, went about hungry. He became poor for the love of Christ who became poor. His trust in the Providence of the Lord is a mark of his humility. His humility in poverty is a reflection of Jesus’ humility in poverty. Rooted in God, his Abba, Jesus Christ for our sake became poor, though he was rich (cf. 2 Cor 8:9), so that we might become rich through his poverty.

Joseph Vaz took the help of the experienced lay persons to carry forth the mission of the Lord. He appointed uppu (elder) over communities to facilitate the work of faith formation and to erect chapels in the form of small thatched huts. The mission of Jesus cannot be accomplished single-handedly. Jesus himself appointed the twelve to carry forth his mission. Every member of the Body of Christ has a role to play in building his Kingdom.

The humble acknowledge the gifts and potentials that the Holy Spirit has endowed on everyone and use them for the mission of the Lord.

Love and charity driven by humility is a universal language understood by all. It is love that breaks the barriers of religions, customs, cultures and traditions and opens the way for a dialogue and mutual enrichment. At the time of the outbreak of the small-pox in Kandy Joseph Vaz, moved with compassion, made no distinction in rendering service, giving them food and medicines and burying the corpses. When Joseph Vaz was washing and cleaning the wounds of the diseased, he was never bothered about their religion. It was a dialogue of life and action built purely on the foundation of love. His humility and total trust in the Providence of the Lord not only renewed the faith of the Catholics but also moved and transformed the hearts of the people of other faiths. Such charity and disinterested service breaks down the barriers of the heart thus fostering a true spirit of communion.

History shows that claiming superiority over others does not build but destroys relationships. Joseph Vaz’s untiring love and humble service for all without distinction drew people to Christ and to his reign of love. He died in humble service. A person who is not humble cannot engage in such self-emptying. The other centeredness comes only through humility.

3. Humility before Mother Mary

Joseph Vaz had grown in the family where devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was given great importance.

On the way to school and on the way back home Joseph Vaz would pray the rosary daily. His love for Mary was especially revealed when he wrote a letter of bondage to her surrendering all that he possesses and asking Mary to dispose of him and his possessions as she wills. In the

‘Deed of Bondage’ to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he offered himself perpetually as her slave to do whatever her son would ask of him. Mother Mary will never leave us orphans. Whoever seeks her intercession will taste the fruits of salvation wrought by Jesus.

CONCLUSION

Joseph Vaz’s rootedness in Christ through prayer and penance are clear manifestations of his humility. His becoming poor for the sake of the poor is the breaking down of his ego to see and serve Christ in the poor. He became a victim in saving the victims of the body and soul.

By his word and Jesus witnessing presence he ignited sparks of faith in people reinvigorating in them flames of hope and love. All this was possible because he depended totally on the Providence of God, always being concerned about doing his will. He always remained open in humility to do not his own will but God’s will, not for his self-glory but for the glory of God. God chose him for a mission, to be his apostle, and Joseph Vaz through his humility responded to this call and remained faithful till his death.

To put in synodal terms, Joseph Vaz in humility lived a life of communion, participation and mission.