Humility as the Foundation of All Other Virtues

The loving and humble heart cannot pay homage enough, either to God or to His noble manhood, nor can it abase itself as much as it would. And that is why a humble man thinks that his worship of God and his lowly service are always falling short. And he is meek, reverencing Holy Church and the sacraments. And he is discreet in food and drink, in speech, in the answers which he makes to everybody; and in his behaviour, dress, and lowly service he is without hypocrisy and without pretense.

And he is humble in his devotions, both outwardly and inwardly, before God and before all men, so that none are offended because of him. And so he overcomes and casts out Pride, which is the source and origin of all other sins. By humility the snares of the devil, and of sin, and of the world, are broken, and man is set in order, and established in the very condition of virtue. And heaven is opened to him, and God stoops to hear his prayers, and he is fulfilled with grace. Whosoever therefore grounds his virtues in humility, he shall never err.

- From Chapter 12: How Humility is the Foundation of All Other Virtues of The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage by Jan van Ruysbroeck also known as Flemish Mystic, Blessed St. John of Ruysbroeck (1293-1381), may God be well pleased with him

. Blessed John Ruysbroeck via Catholic Encyclopedia
. Writings of John of Ruysbroeck