De gradibus humilitatis et superbiae
The Nature of Humility
Humility is defined as the virtue by which one, through true self-knowledge, becomes worthless in one's own eyes, advancing step by step until reaching contemplation of truth.
Here, then, is a definition of humility: humility is the virtue by which a person, through the truest knowledge of himself, becomes worthless in his own eyes. This applies to those who, having arranged the ascents in their hearts, advance from virtue to virtue—that is, from step to step—until they reach the summit of humility, where, set firm like Zion, that is, in contemplation, they may gaze upon truth.✦✦1 For, he says, the lawgiver will give a blessing—because the one who gave the law will also give the blessing; that is, the one who commanded humility will lead to truth.✦2
The Kind and Upright Lawgiver
The Lord who gave the law to those who have strayed along the way is both kind and upright, offering the path of humility as a means to return to truth, granting salvation through mercy while upholding the discipline of the law.
So who is this lawgiver, if not the kind and upright Lord, who gave the law to those who had wandered off the path?✦ For it is on the path that those who abandon truth go astray. But does the kind Lord abandon them even then? So the kind and upright Lord gives them a law — the way of humility — through which they might return to the knowledge of truth. He gives them the chance to recover their salvation — because he is kind; yet not without the discipline of the law — because he is upright. Kind, because he does not let them perish; upright, because he does not neglect to punish.
Read the original Latin
Humilitatis vero talis potest esse definitio: humilitas est virtus, qua homo verissima sui cognitione sibi ipse vilescit Haec autem convenit his, qui ascensionibus in corde suo dispositis, de virtute in virtutem, id est de gradu in gradum proficiunt, donec ad culmen humilitatis perveniant, in quo velut Sion, id est in speculatione, positi, veritatem prospiciant. Etenim, inquit, benedictionem dabit legislator, quia qui dedit legem, dabit et benedictionem, hoc est qui iussit humilitatem, perducet ad veritatem.
Quis vero est hic legislator, nisi dulcis et rectus Dominus; qui legem dedit delinquentibus in via? In via quippe delinquunt, qui veritatem derelinquunt. Sed numquid vel sic a dulci Domino derelinquuntur? Ipsis ergo dulcis et rectus Dominus legem dat viam humilitatis, per quam redeant ad cognitionem veritatis. Dat occasionem recuperandae salutis; quia dulcis est; non tamen absque disciplina legis quia rectus est. Dulcis, quia perire non patitur; rectus, qui punire non obliviscitur.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.122.1 — I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
- ↩Ps.133.3 — Like the dew of Hermon falling upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing — life forevermore.
- ↩Isa.33.20 — Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feast! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a tranquil dwelling, a tent that will not be taken down — its stakes will never be pulled up, and none of its cords will be broken.
- ↩Jas.4.12 — There is one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Notes
- 1 ↩The image of 'ascents in the heart' echoes the 'ascents' tradition in spiritual writing (cf. the Songs of Ascents in the Psalms). 'Zion' here stands for the contemplative height from which truth is surveyed.
- 2 ↩The quotation 'benedictionem dabit legislator' is a candidate scriptural allusion (possibly Isaiah 33:20 LXX or a related tradition); final resolution deferred to Moses cross-reference. The 'lawgiver' here refers to God, who commands humility and leads the soul to truth.
De gradibus humilitatis et superbiae (On the Steps of Humility and Pride) companion
Humility is climbed one day at a time
Take the next step each morning with a free daily devotional in Chosen Portion.
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