St. Angela of Foligno, known as the “Mistress of Theologians,” writing in Give Us This Day, said that Christ did not say: “Learn from me to fast,” although as an example to us and for our salvation, he fasted forty days and forty nights. He did not say: “Learn from me to despise the world and live in poverty,” although he lived in great poverty and wished that his disciples live the same way. But he said: “Learn from me because I am meek and humble of heart.” He set forth humility of heart and meekness as the foundation and firmest basis for all the other virtues. For neither abstinence, severe fasting, outward poverty, shabby clothing, outward show of good works, the performance of miracles—none of these amount to anything without the humility of heart. Instead, abstinence will become blessed, austerity and shabby clothes will become blessed, and good deeds will become blessed and full of life when they are solidly founded in humility.