Caput XL
The Pilgrimage of Pride and Humility
Odo sets the scene of earthly life as a pilgrimage in which the proud and the humble journey together, yet with very different outcomes.
It must be known, indeed, that in this pilgrimage — where Babylonians and Jerusalem-dwellers press forward together, and the reprobate frequently grow proud, and the elect are humbled — this is what is accustomed to happen.
The False Humility of the Proud
Those who are proud attempt to wear humility as an outward garment, but it is foreign to them; they soon fall away and even boast of their feigned humility, seeking vainglory.
But to proud minds, humility is a lofty thing. And for this reason, when they strive to climb up to it in outward appearance alone, they can by no means remain in it for long, because what they seek to seize is foreign to them, and they soon slide back as if from steep paths. For until they cast off this humility and return to their customary exaltation, they carry it like a heavy weight in their heart. Of these, therefore, it is said: At every time of life the impious are proud, because although they take on the appearance of humility, they do this to acquire vain glory, and so they boast even about their feigned humility, to the point that they are proud of it — if they know how to argue subtly against pride.✦
The Elect Turn from Pride to Humility
The elect, though once proud, are converted before death from exaltation to humility, for pride is itself a fall, and the Psalmist prays for deliverance from the foot of pride.
The elect, too, are indeed accustomed to be proud, but not at every time, because before they end their life, they turn their heart from exaltation to humility. For to have been proud is to have fallen. Whence also through the Psalmist it is said: Let the foot of pride not come to me (Psal.✦
The Foot of Pride and the Discipline of Humbling
Through the singular 'foot' of pride in the Psalm and the prophecy of Zephaniah, Odo teaches that pride is brief and that God permits other temptations only to humble the soul, so it may cease serving the devil.
(Zephaniah 35:12). "Foot, it says, not feet": it's clear that no one walks for long on one foot. For this reason, then, they are allowed to be tempted by any other vice, so that they may be humbled; but once humbled, they should stop belonging to the devil, whom they served through their pride. Through Zephaniah it is said: "Yet, understand this, you may be proud for an hour, but you will fear me and receive discipline" (Zephaniah✦ 3:7).
Read the original Latin
Sciendum vero quod in hac peregrinatione, ubi Babylonici et Hierosolymitae mistim procurrunt, et reprobi frequenter superbire, et electi humiliari soleant. Sed superbis mentibus humilitas alta est. Et idcirco cum hanc specietenus conscendere nituntur, diu in ea morari nequaquam possunt, quoniam alienum est quod apprehendere quaerunt, et quasi a clivosis itineribus mox relabuntur. Nam quousque hanc abjiciant, et ad consuetam elationem redeant, quasi grave pondus in corde patiuntur. De istis ergo dicitur: Omni equidem tempore vitae superbiunt impii, quia licet speciem humilitatis assumant, hoc tamen ad acquirendam inanem gloriam faciunt, et ita de ipsa ficta humilitate gloriantur, ut etiam inde superbiant, si contra superbiam subtiliter disputare norunt. Solent quippe et electi superbire, sed non omni tempore, quia priusquam vitam finiant, cor ab elatione ad humilitatem commutant. Superbisse enim, cecidisse est. Unde et per Psalmistam dicitur: Non veniat mihi pes superbiae (Psal.
XXXV, 12). Pes, inquit, non pedes: liquet enim quod nullus uno pede diu graditur. Ob id ergo quolibet alio vitio tentari permittuntur, ut humilientur; humiliati vero diaboli esse desinant, cui superbiendo militabant. Hinc per Sophoniam dicitur: At tamen, subaudis, licet ad horam superbias, timebis me et accipies disciplinam (Soph. III, 7).
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.10.4 — The wicked, in the pride of his face, does not seek him; God is not in all his schemes.
- ↩Ps.36.11 — Let not the foot of the arrogant tread upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
- ↩Zeph.3.7 — I said, 'Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction, and her dwelling will not be cut off—all that I have appointed against her.' Yet they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.
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