To observe the virtue of holy humility, a few years after his conversion he resigned the office of his prelancy in a certain Chapter before the friars, saying, "From henceforth am I dead to you, but behold Brother Peter of Catana, whom both I and we all will obey." And throwing himself on the earth before him, he promised him obedience and reverence.
Therefore all the friars wept, and their exceeding great grief forced from them deep sighs, when they saw themselves in a manner become orphans of such a father.
But the holy Father rising with his eyes raised to heaven and his hands joined, sai, "Lord, I commend to Thee Thy family whicch hitherto Thou has committed to me; and now on account of the infirmitie which Thou knowest O most sweet Lord, being unable to have care of it, I commend it to its Ministers, who shall be held in the day of judgment to show cause before Thee, O Lord, if any brother should perish through their negligence, or evil example, or bitter correction."
He remained therefore from that time a subject unto the day of his death, bearing himself more humbly in all things than any of the others.
Mirror of Perfection, Section IV, chapter xxxix
In the Bible, pride is not a feeling of being over, but the fact of having authority over others. Humility is releasing that authority in due time. To remain in authority, especially as one weakens or loses ones composure, is a sin against the family of Jesus, especially recognizing that Jesus is not located in one person, but in the group as a whole. The longer one is an authority, the more likely that person will be an authoritarian, or they will be given greater authority. It is necessary to release leadership to maintain humility of the whole family.
