"Humility and charity are the master chords that all other virtues depend upon. The one is the lowest, the other the highest. The preservation of the entire edifice depends on the foundation and the roof. If the heart keeps itself directed in the exercise of these, no difficulty will be encountered in the others. These are the mothers of virtue, the others follow them as the chicks do their mother" (St. Padre Pio).

What is humility? It is the virtue of seeing myself as God sees me, no more, no less. It is described by St. Paul in these words: "I am who I am by the grace of God."  It is the foundation because it is the truth, based on the revelation that I have been created by God, sustained by God, gifted by God and destined for God. The foundation of my life is God. This is humility.

On the other hand, charity is the roof because my purpose in life is to be with God for all eternity. God is love. As St. John says: "Let us love one another. For love is of God. And everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God. For God is love...No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us."

My life is to be one of truth and love, living in the truth and acting in love.