St. Thomas Aquinas comes. He says: “I have come to continue my lesson on Holy Love–Holy Humility. Consider once again the ladder whose steps are the virtues and whose side rails are love and humility. When the step breaks away from the side rail, it is no longer strong. It may resemble a step, but in fact, lacks the strength of a genuine step. So it is with any virtue. The virtue is only as deep as love and humility are deep in the soul. Virtue that is not grounded in love and humility soon gives in, as it is false.”

“Every virtue must be supported by Holy Love and Holy Humility. If it is not, the soul will not advance on the ladder of holiness, but slip and fall. Think of the virtue of patience. The soul that is not supported by love and humility easily becomes impatient. He begins to think of ‘poor me' and how all things affect him, rather than on God's Divine Will in the present moment. The same is true of a failing in perseverance, meekness, and more.”

“It is always an inordinate self-love that pulls the soul away from love and humility. Self-love, therefore, is the antithesis of the entire spiritual quest for holiness and advancement through the Chambers of the United Hearts.”