Summary Of The Rule Of St. Benedict Humility

In The Rule of St. Benedict, a large section of the work is devoted to analyzing humility, which seems to run as an overarching theme throughout the work itself. While a focus on all 12 stages of the humility as described by benedict is too large in scope for this assignment, I will be focusing on the fear of the Lord, avoidance of self-seeking behavior, and humility manifest in all facets of life. Prior to analyzing humility, it is important to first define what it is and why it is important. Saint Benedict believes that the only way to quickly reach “exaltation in heaven” is by climbing “by the humility of this present life” (Rule 7.5). For monks, living life with humility and climbing up the 12 stages of humility was the proper way to live
According to Benedict the first stage of humility is that “a man keeps the fear of God always before his eyes and never forgets it” (7.10). Benedict claims that one must “guard himself at every moment from sins and vices” and is “always seen by God in heaven [and] that his actions everywhere are in God’s sight” (7.12-13). Benedict claims we are always under the scrutiny of angels who report to God and silently note all of our falls. Therefore, we are driven to act with humility solely out of self-interest and a desire to secure salvation and avoid being sent to hell. I think this point is inherently embedded throughout Benedicts theology. The whole purpose of the monastic environment and all of the rules that limit monk’s free will and the food they eat, time they sleep, and
Benedict claims that monks should “only do what is involved by the common rule of the monastery and the example set by his superior” (7.55). I think this is a crucial point because it is the most communal and suggests that monks must be at peace with their environment. This is defined in great detail throughout the rest of the text. For example, Benedict defines the monks sleeping arrangements saying “the monks are to sleep in separate beds. They receive bedding as provided by the abbot” (22. 1-2). He then goes on to say that monks should only have “two kinds of cooked foods” (39. 1) and “abstain entirely from eating the meat of four-footed animals” (39.11). Benedict places strict rules on the monks and makes them dependent on the abbot for all decisions to such an extent that even the type of bedding they could sleep in and the foods they may eat was in the abbot’s control. Therefore, the eighth stage of humility is the authority that allows the abbot to enforce all of the limitations on monks such as their sleeping arrangements and diets, amongst many others. Furthermore, it asks the monk to acclimate himself into the community and respect his elders and in doing so bring himself closer to salvation and the love of God. Ultimately, I believe that the whole point of the eighth stage is to learn how to be comfortable and in harmony with