Australians live with a curious tension of admiring success but also despising those who big note themselves. We quickly chop down the tall poppies, and at the same time we can overlook the shrinking violets, those fearful of sticking their neck out too far. Somewhere between this dichotomy of self-pride and overt modesty lies the truly humble person. Humility and truthfulness are inseparable and form the basis of a virtuous life.
The violet was used by Saint Marcellin Champagnat to describe the type of Christian discipleship he wanted Marists to nurture, with three basic spiritual attitudes: humility, simplicity and modesty. For a symbol to represent all of this, Marcellin turned to the little flowers that grow wild in the south of France.
Brother Michael Green explains: ‘These flowers are not ones that shout out through their colour, their size or their scent, “Look at me! Look at me!” No, they are small purple flowers scattered in green fields. But when discovered, they can be seen to have their own beauty, their own integrity, and their own quiet statement of who they are. And the fields are different as a result.’
Unlike the tall poppy, the beauty of Christian discipleship doesn’t come from towering above others but from quietly colouring our surroundings.
DEEP ROOTS
The roots of humility run deep, and not just in a figurative sense. The Latin word humus, which means earth or soil, is the origin of both humility and human. Humility is fundamentally about being a grounded person, someone who knows their personal truth and the truth of who God is. This virtue anchors people in rich soil and removes the temptation of overinflation or diminishment.
Young people are attracted to those who are grounded, and it’s through experiences such as service, learning and intercultural immersions that they begin to sink their own roots. They encounter the reality of others and discover that success is not measured by achievement or acclaim but by interdependence and gratitude.
When students travel to countries such as the Solomon Islands, they meet people who are not self-reliant in the ways western culture promotes; instead, they display a generous spirit and trust in God. Many students returning from immersions would say they’ve been humbled by their experiences and discovered a profound truth about their place in the world. At a deeper level, they discover the humility and example of Jesus who receives, listens and loves from a place of deep groundedness.
TOXICITY
Modern society and social media encourage young people to project confidence and, at their worst, promote dominance over others. The humble won’t last in the rush to increase the number of likes and views. There is a growing toxicity in online culture, and it’s not limited to masculinity. We see it in the refusal to admit wrongs, the glorification of being self-made and the idea that asking someone for help is showing weakness.
Humility asks us to welcome vulnerability rather than fear it. It encourages us to ask for help, to listen carefully and to value collaboration. Humility forms our character, and ultimately this will determine the life we lead. Mahatma Gandhi expressed it like this:
Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.
Humility interrupts the cycle of pride before it becomes who we are.
Young people learn humility when adults apologise, when we admit we don’t know everything, when we allow others to shine and resist the temptation to boast. Our lives reflect humility when we model how to sit with someone who is lonely, to listen before speaking and do good quietly.
ORIENT TO OTHERS
Christian humility draws the gaze away from ourselves and towards others and God. As first disciple, Mary, in the Magnificat, points honour back to God who raises the lowly. She models what it means to be full of God’s grace and to point people to her son. Jesus is humility made flesh. He knelt to wash the feet of his disciples, welcomed children, and chose the company of the poor and outcast. Far from diminishing his power, Jesus’ humility transformed those he encountered.
The desert fathers and mothers teach us to let God be God. This kind of humility stops us in our tracks and reminds us of God’s vastness, tenderness and mercy.
In our rush to celebrate our own consequence, it’s easy to miss this quiet truth. It’s named plainly in Matthew’s Gospel: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’,those who recognise the need to discover the fullness of God’s love.
In a world that seems obsessed with being seen and promoted, humility quietly transforms the world. It requires us to kneel, to listen and to be real. A humble person has no need to cut down tall poppies, nor do they shrink away from doing good. They stand firm in God’s love and realise that beauty does not need height or acclaim but simply seeks the good of the other.
This article first appeared in the autumn 2026 edition of Madonna magazine.
