Today is the feast of St. Benedict. He was born in 480 within a wealthy family in the Roman town of Norcia, east of Rome. He eventually responded to a call to lead establishing communities where followers could “seek God” and confront the contemporary pagan culture. It was here where he constructed a rule of life and organization for these communities. The Rule of St. Benedict was written for those serious about seeking God and being formed in His image.
In all the chapters and instructions, no greater attention is given to any other virtue than humility. Humility is the road that leads to being formed into the image of God. Therefore, St. Benedict wanted to help his followers serve in humility so he developed his twelve steps towards humility:
1. Respect God.
A person should keep the fear of God before their eyes and beware of ever forgetting it. We are forbidden to do our own will, but as scripture says that we ask God that His will be done in us.
2. Love not one’s own will.
A person love not their own will nor take pleasure in satisfying their own desires, but model their actions on the saying of the Lord, “I have come not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” In other words, reject your own personal desires and put the Lord first.
3. Submit to one’s superior.
A person for the love of God submit themselves to their Superior in all obedience, imitating the Lord who was “obedient even unto death.” Simply put, obey others.
4. Be obedient at all times, especially in difficult situations.
A person should hold fast to patience with a silent mind, when in this obedience they meet with difficulties and contradictions and even any kind of injustice, enduring all without growing weary or running away. For scripture says, “The one who perseveres to the end, is the one who shall be saved.” This is a simple case of turn the other cheek.
5. Be transparent.
We should not hide any of the evil thoughts that enter our hearts or the sins committed in secret, but that we humbly confess them. “Confess to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.” We should be honest and transparent about our own limitations and weaknesses.
6. Be content with the lowly and menial jobs.
Be content with the poorest and worst of everything, and that in every occupation assigned to us, we consider ourselves a bad and worthless worker.
7. Have a correct, but lowly estimation of self.
We should consider ourselves lower and of less account than anyone else. There needs to be internal reflection and to make sure that we do not seek to place the blame on others.
8. Stay within the boundaries of the organization and role.
We should do nothing except what is commended to us. We should follow all organizational rules, not just in letter, but also in spirit.
9. Control one’s tongue.
We should restrain our tongues and keep silence, not speaking until questioned. (This is a tough one when sometimes we really want to verbally lash out.)
10. Avoid frivolity.
We are not ready and quick to laugh, for it is written in Scripture that “the fool lifts up his voice in laughter.” This is not meant that we should not be having fun, but to make sure that our laughter is not at the expense of others.
11. Speak clearly and plainly.
We should not be noisy in speech, for a wise man is known by the fewness of his words. We should speak with kindness and gentleness to others at all times.
12. Adopt a humble posture.
We are to not only have humility in our hearts, but also by our very appearance, and to make that manifest to those who see us. In other words, whether we are at the work of God, in the garden, on the road, in the fields or anywhere else, and whether sitting, walking or standing, we should always have our heads bowed down and our eyes toward the ground.
Notice that Benedict’s steps start with the heart and ends with a posture that communicates humility. His twelve steps describe a process of personal conversion that leads from our interior motive to an outward behavior.
We cannot give to others if we are not coming from a place of humility. Let us pray that we may be filled with humility in order to faithfully serve our God and each other.
