Tag: humility
The Spirits Around Us: What are our access points?
We write about the spirits around us, and this is a time of the year important in that regard; there have been mystics who’ve said it’s on Christmas that the greatest number of souls are released. Apparently, like certain hours of the night, like three a.m., at Christmastime the veil seems to thin. Fortunately, more… Read More ›
St. Benedict for Beginners – The Ninth Step to Humility
‘The ninth step of humility is that a monk should keep his tongue from talking; he should preserve silence.’ Monks are famous for their vows of silence, and there is much wisdom in the tradition. Benedict is not recommending silence for silence’s sake, but because there is so much occasion to sin in much talking…. Read More ›
Learn to have a perfect abandonment of yourself
My son, as much as you can abandon yourself and your own will so much will you enter into Me. And as to desire nothing outwardly brings peace to a man’s soul, so a man, by an inward forsaking of himself, joins himself to God. It is My will, therefore, that you learn to have… Read More ›
St. Benedict for Beginners – The Eighth Step to Humility
‘The eighth step of humility is that the monk should do nothing except what is recommended by the common rule of the monastery and the example of those above him.’ It is difficult to put up and shut up. We think we know best, and often we can see a better way to do things…. Read More ›
The Benefits of Being Ordinary
Every hour of every day, we are persuaded that the benefits of being extraordinary in some way are equally extraordinary. This has two propaganda components: 1. If you buy this product or service (touted by An Extraordinary Person), you will feel the vicarious thrill of acting/looking like you’re extraordinary. 2. Our society is a meritocracy, blah… Read More ›
St. Benedict for Beginners — The Seventh Step to Humility
‘The seventh step of humility is that the monk should not only say in his words that he is inferior and less virtuous than other men, but he should believe it in his heart.’ This advice sounds like St Benedict wants us to grovel and mumble that we are just lowly worms. Not really. He… Read More ›
St. Benedict for Beginners – The Sixth Step to Humility
‘The sixth step of humility is that a monk should be satisfied with whatever is of lowest value or quality.’ Are we really supposed to surround ourselves with everything of poor quality and low value? Not really. St Benedict is not recommending that we intentionally surround ourselves with everything that is tacky, cheap and nasty… Read More ›
The Age of Narcissism
Brother, the Holy Scriptures cries out to us, saying: Whoever is self-promoting will be humbled, and whoever is humble will be promoted. When it says this, it shows us all that self-promotion is a kind of pride. The Prophet shows that he avoids this when he says: Lord, my heart is not lifted up, nor… Read More ›
St. Benedict for Beginners – The Fifth Step to Humility
The fifth step of humility is that a man should in humble confession reveal to his Abbot all the evil thoughts that come into his mind, and any wrongful actions that he had done in secret.’ Nothing helps us make a quantum leap forward in the quest for humility than a good and complete confession…. Read More ›
St. Benedict for Beginners – The Fourth Step to Humility
‘The fourth step of humility is that, when in the very act of obeying one meets with trials and even abuse… a man should neither grow faint nor run away.’ Benedict’s rule is manly. He is training soldiers for Christ and he doesn’t tolerate deserters. Humility is the heart of being Christ-like and we need… Read More ›