12/09/2020 – “The Rule of St. Benedict” – standing the test of time for 1,500 years, God’s time.
I had this book in my queue wish list and I finally got around to reading it. I’m so glad I did although I am not done yet. From the preface of the book: “Benedict (c 480 -547) lived in sixth-century Italy when the great Roman Empire was disintegrating.” St. Benedicts times were as turbulent as our own , though for very different reasons. He wrote his Rule primarily for monks, but its sound principles for working together and living together have proved relevant to people of all classes of society through fifteen years.
This little pocket size book is less than 100 pages. I am going to share with you Benedict’s twelve steps to humility, just to get a sense of what a practical guide to obediance of God might look like. Benedict started at least a dozen monastery. As a young man, he left his native village to attend school in Rome, but became disgusted with the paganism he saw and renounced the world to live in solitude in a cave at Subiaco, some thirty miles east of Rome.
I pick it up from chapter 7: “Humility” , summarily walking through the 12 steps:
“Brothers, divine Scripture calls to us saying, ‘ Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Luke 14:11, 18:14)….
- The first step of humility, then, is that a man keeps the fear of God always before his eyes (Psalm 35 [36}:3) and never forgets it.
- The second step of humility is that a man loves not his own will nor takes pleasure in the satisfaction of his desires; rather he shall imitate by his actions that saying of the Lord: I have come not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me (John 6:38)
- The third step of humility is that a man submits to his superior in all obediance for the love of God, imitating the Lord of whom the Apostle says: He became obediant even to death (Phil 2:8).
- The fourth step of humility is that in this obediance under difficult, unfavorable, or unjust conditions, his heart quietly embraces suffering and endures it without weakening or seeking escape. For Scripture has it: Anyone who perseveres to the end will be saved (Matt 10:22) and again, Be brave of heart and rely on the Lord (Ps 27:14)..
- The fifth step of humility is that a man does not conceal from his abbot any sinful thoughts entering his heart, or any wrongs committed in secret, but rather confesses them humbly.
- The sixth step of humility is that a monk content with the lowest and most menial treatment, and regards himself as a poor and worthless workman in whatever task he is given, saying to himself with the Prophet: I am insignificant and ignorant, no better than a beast before you, yet I am with you always. Psalm 73: 22-23}.
- The seventh step of humility is that a man not only admits with his tongue but is also convinced in his heart that he is inferior to all and of less value, humbling himself and saying with the Prophet: I am truly a worm, not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people (Psalm 22:7)….. And again, It is a blessing that you have humbled me so that I can learn your commandments. (Psalm 119: 71,73)
- The eighth step of humility is that a monk does only what is endorsed by the common rule of the monastery and the example set by his superiors.
- The ninth step of humility is that a monk controls his tongue and remains silent, not speaking unless asked a question for Scripture warns, In a flood of words you will not avoid sinning (Proverbs 10:19), and, A talkative man goes about aimlessly on earth (Psalm 140:12)
- The tenth step of humility is that he is not given to ready laughter, for it is written: Only a fool raises his voice in laughter (Sirach 21:23)
- The eleventh step of humility is that a monk speaks gently and without laughter, seriously and with bcoming modesty, briefly and reasonably, but without raising his voice, as it is written, “A wise man is known by his few words.”
- The twelfth step of humility is that a monk always manifests humility in his bearing no less than in his heart, so that it is evident at the Work of God, in the oratory, the monastery or the garden, on a journey or in the field, or anywhere else. ”
Finally, look at this passage, I would say Benedict knew and embraced “The Watchman” passage in Ezekiel that we studied just this past week:
“The abbot must know that anyone undertaking the charge of souls must be ready to account for them. Whatever the number of brothers that he has in his care, let him realize that on judgment day he will surely have to submit a reckoning to the Lord for all their souls – and indeed for his own as well. In this way, while always fearful for the future examination of the shepherd about the sheep entrusted to him and careful about the state of others’ accounts, he becomes concerned also about his own, and while helping others to amend by his warnings he achieves the amendment of his own faults.”
Soli Deo Gloria!