When Saint Peter and his companions had, at this word of Jesus, cast their nets and enclosed the miraculous draught of fishes, Saint Peter's first impulse was to throw himself at Jesus' feet and humbly cry, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" Success, instead of puffing him up, made him recognize his own sinfulness and unworthiness of the favors that God had done him. This should be the effect of success on us - to humble ourselves and declare ourselves unworthy of such benefits as God has bestowed upon us.
Yet success is meant to encourage us. We cannot help being conscious of having done well and given satisfaction and it would be foolish and ungrateful to ignore the fact. But, our spirit must be that of Saint Bernard, who did not deny the marvels that God had wrought through him. Instead, he expressed his astonishment that God could make use of such an instrument. So, we should regard it as fresh proof of God's power and love, that He should work the marvels of His grace through us.
Thus, to humble ourselves amid the approval and applause of others is no easy task. It is very possible to cry out, "Not unto us, O Lord, but to Thy Name be the praise," and all the time to be puffed up with pride. The real test is whether we pray at such moments, "Humble me, O Lord. Teach me my own nothingness, make me continually depend on Thee, and in my heart attribute to Thee all the glory and to myself nothing." Such a prayer, if it comes from our heart, is a certain safeguard for our humility.
- text from Humility, Thirty Short Meditations by Father Richard Frederick Clarke, SJ