Humility of St. Thomas Aquinas

When at the convent of Bologna, a lay Brother, having occasion to go into the town, to buy some necessaries for the wants of the community, went to the prior to ask him to appoint him a companion. The Prior told him to take the first religious he met, which happened to be St. Thomas, who was walking at that time in the cloisters. The lay brother, who did not know who he was, went up and said: “Good Father, the prior wishes you to go with me into the town.” St. Thomas bent his head in assent, and followed him at once. But as they went through the streets, St. Thomas, who could not walk as fast as his companion lagged behind, and was often scolded for it by the Brother, but each time humbly excused himself. Some of the citizens, who knew the holy Doctor, full of admiration for such humility, which could induce so great a man to follow a lay Brother, to the lay Brother who his companion was. The poor Brother, full of confusion, at once begged his pardon. But St. Thomas answered: “All religion is perfected obedience, by which man is subjected to his follow man for the love of God, as God obeyed man for the love of man.”

St. Thomas Aquinas, Ora Pro Nobis.