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2The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience. 3This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord.
anyone who receives the name of abbot is to lead his disciples by a twofold teaching: 12he must point out to them all that is good and holy more by example than by words, proposing the commandments of the Lord to receptive disciples with words, but demonstrating God’s instructions to the stubborn and the dull by a living example.
20Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way; 21the love of Christ must come before all else.
62Do not aspire to be called holy before you really are, but first be holy that you may more truly be called so.
1The first step of humility is unhesitating obedience, 2which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all.
there are times when good words are to be left unsaid out of esteem for silence. For all the more reason, then, should evil speech be curbed so that punishment for sin may be avoided.
10The first step of humility, then, is that a man keeps the fear of God always before his eyes (Ps 35[36]:2) and never forgets it.
31The second step of humility is that a man loves not his own will nor takes pleasure in the satisfaction of his desires; 32rather 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).
34The third step of humility is that a man submits to his superior in all obedience for the love of God, imitating the Lord of whom the Apostle says: He became obedient even to death (Phil 2:8). 35The fourth step of humility is that in this obedience under difficult, unfavorable, or even unjust conditions, his heart quietly embraces suffering 36and endures it without weakening or seeking escape.
44The 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.
49The sixth step of humility is that a monk is content with the lowest and most menial treatment, and regards himself as a poor and worthless workman in whatever task he is given,
51The 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,
55The 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.
56The ninth step of humility is that a monk controls his tongue and remains silent, not speaking unless asked a question,
59The tenth step of humility is that he is not given to ready laughter,
60The eleventh step of humility is that a monk speaks gently and without laughter, seriously and with becoming modesty, briefly and reasonably, but without raising his voice,
62The 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 63at the Work of God, in the oratory, the monastery or the garden, on a journey or in the field, or anywhere else. Whether he sits, walks or stands, his head must be bowed and his eyes cast down. 64Judging himself always guilty on account of his sins, he should consider that he is already at the fearful judgment,
67Now, therefore, after ascending all these steps of humility, the monk will quickly arrive at that perfect love of God which casts out fear (1 John 4:18). 68Through this love, all that he once performed with dread, he will now begin to observe without effort, as though naturally, from habit, 69no longer out of fear of hell, but out of love for Christ, good habit and delight in virtue.
1Whenever we want to ask some favor of a powerful man, we do it humbly and respectfully, for fear of presumption. 2How much more important, then, to lay our petitions before the Lord God of all things with the utmost humility and sincere devotion.
nothing is so inconsistent with the life of any Christian as overindulgence.
1Idleness is the enemy of the soul. Therefore, the brothers should have specified periods for manual labor as well as for prayerful reading.
15During this time of Lent each one is to receive a book from the library, and is to read the whole of it straight through. 16These books are to be distributed at the beginning of Lent.
15Wherever brothers meet, the junior asks his senior for a blessing. 16When an older monk comes by, the younger rises and offers him a seat, and does not presume to sit down unless the older bids him. 17In this way, they do what the words of Scripture say: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rom 12:10).
1Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, 2so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life.
5Supporting with the greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior, 6and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. 7No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else.
