When I entered religion, I saw this character trait as a talent given me by God rather than as a flaw. I took pride in developing it further, through ascetical practices such as fasting, severe penances, exercises of will, and personal discipline. Had I failed to see that these were not always done solely in response to God’s grace or out of some apostolic motive, but also out of pride? Yes, I prided myself on doing these things better or more often than others, vying as it were with the legends of the saints to prove that I (that telltale word, again) could prove their equal and somehow be
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Shoot I'm staring in the mirror rn. Literally me. I must do better.
