Caput XXXIII. De superbia et ejus speciebus.
The Unsafe Foundation
All sin rests on an unsafe foundation that leaves everything built upon it open to ruin.
This much is certain: the thoroughly unsafe foundation of all sins is one from which whatever you build is open to ruin.
Pride's First Move
Pride is the beginning of all sin, casting the angel from heaven and man from paradise.
The beginning of every sin is pride, which drove the angel out of heaven and man out of paradise.
Two Branches of Pride
Pride is divided into two kinds: carnal pride in worldly things and spiritual pride in spiritual gifts.
Although this worst vice has many branches, yet all are divided into two kinds: carnal and spiritual. Carnal pride is pride in carnal things; spiritual pride is pride in spiritual things.
Vanity in Disguise
Carnal pride subdivides into boasting and vanity, illustrated by a recluse who secretly glories in her noble birth, her chosen poverty, and her rejection of wealthy marriages.
Carnal pride is further subdivided into two kinds: namely, boasting and vanity. It is vanity when a handmaid of Christ boasts in her heart that she was born of noble parents; when she delights that she chose poverty over riches for Christ's sake; when she tries to set herself above those who are poorer and more lowly; when she looks as if she has accomplished something great because she despised the marriages of the rich.
Read the original Latin
Hoc est certum haud securum peccatorum omnium fundamentum, ex quo quidquid aedificas, ruinae patet. Initium omnis peccati superbia, quae angelum de coelo, hominem de paradiso expulit. Hujus pessimae cum multi sint rami; omnes tamen in duas species dividuntur, in carnalem scilicet et spiritualem. Carnalis superbia est de carnalibus, spiritualis est de spiritualibus superbire. Carnalis postea in duas subdividitur species: in jactantiam scilicet, et vanitatem. Vanitas est, si ancilla Christi intus in animo suo glorietur se nobilibus ortam natalibus; si se divitiis paupertatem praetulisse pro Christo delectetur; si se pauperioribus et ignobilioribus praeferre conetur; si se contempsisse divitum nuptias, quasi aliquid magnum admiretur.
De institutione inclusarum (A Rule of Life for a Recluse) companion
A rule only lives if you keep it daily
Chosen Portion gives your new rule its anchor: one free devotional portion every day.
Aelred built his sister's day around fixed times of prayer and meditation; Chosen Portion supplies the fixed daily portion that makes a modern rule of life keepable.
- Anchor your rule with a fixed 10-minute daily portion
- Practice Aelred's threefold meditation with guided daily prompts
- Review and adjust your one-page rule after 30 days of tracked practice