De bonis moribus humilis fratris
The Foundation of Humility
Humility is the essential grace that shapes the religious life, distinguishing the wise from the foolish.
God gives grace to the humble. Every action and word of a religious brother should be adorned with humble modesty and not occupied with anything vain. It’s a good sign of future integrity in novices and young men to have humble manners, to speak little, and especially to do so among their elders. Whoever doesn't first get used to listening and learning to be silent will rarely be counted among the learned and wise. That’s why many are judged foolish: because they are unrefined in their manners. To obey quickly, to pray often, to meditate devoutly, to work diligently, to study willingly, to avoid aimless wandering, and to love solitude—these make a monk devout and his mind tranquil. It’s written in Genesis that God looked with favor upon the offerings of Abel, but did not look upon those of Cain.✦ Why?
The Way of Abel
By imitating the innocence of Abel, the believer learns to prioritize peace and charity over worldly reputation.
Abel was innocent and humble, while Cain was envious and twisted. Be like Abel in your suffering; don't argue with someone like Cain, or you'll lose your peace and your good reputation. It's better for you to lose what's yours than to offend God, hurt a brother, or break charity. If you want to gain a heavenly treasure, throw off the weight of the earth. If you desire lasting honor, despise worldly glory. If you want peace, avoid the places where arguments start and the roots of anger. If you want to be great in heaven, be a little one in the world. Don't try to justify yourself before people, because human praise is empty when a bad conscience accuses you.
The Strength of the Gentle
True strength is found in gentleness and self-control, which win the hearts of others and maintain spiritual integrity.
Both the bold and the talkative are blameworthy, as they don't keep to the right measure. Many strong people have fallen because they were too confident in themselves. Many weak people have recovered because they hoped in God and called upon Him. The humble and gentle person makes themselves lovable to everyone. The harsh and rigid person drives away those who come near. The patient and quiet person overcomes those who oppose them through the service of love. Those who willingly serve others and sympathize with the troubled multiply their friends; those who don't know how to keep silent when it's time to do so bring shame upon themselves before many people. The person who knows how to make themselves good and commendable in virtues is prudent and skilled in the arts.
Purity of Heart and Spirit
A pure and disciplined life empowers the believer to conquer vice and serve as a virtuous example to others.
That person is strong in spirit who resists vices with strength. It's a great master who rules over his own twisted desires. A soldier is strong and well-armed who tames the flesh with the weapons of self-control. Whoever lives purely on earth is worthy to be placed with the angels in heaven. A pure person is a friend of God and a companion to the angels; they are kin to the virgins and a beloved citizen of the saints. The humble and pure person conquers demons and strikes fear into the impure. Great is the leader who governs himself virtuously and provides... ...a good example to those under his care.
The Wisdom of the Humble
True nobility is found in virtue and the pursuit of eternal goods, culminating in a life that reflects the humility of Christ.
The person who strives to follow the virtues of good people is worthy of their praise. A person is noble and truly well-born when their own virtue ennobles them. That person is beautiful who is clean from sin. Even if a wicked person is adorned on the outside, they are still dark within; but the person who is full of the grace of God and desires no honor is happy and rich. A person is foolish and insane who loves what is harmful to themselves and lets go of what is healthy for their soul. This is divine wisdom: to seek eternal goods and to despise all things that pass away. If anyone wants to be taught the way of humility by you, show it to them and lead the way by your example. The truly humble person doesn't know how to be puffed up; they despise being praised, rejoice in being held in contempt, and quickly forgive when they are hurt.
Read the original Latin
Mitibus autem Deus dat gratiam. Omnis actio et locutio religiosi fratris debet humili verecundia ornari: et nulla re vana occupari. Bonum signum futurae probitatis in noviciis et iuvenibus: humiles habere mores, parum loqui et praecipue inter seniores. Qui non assuescit primo audire et discere tacere: raro reputabitur inter doctos et sapientes. Ideo multi iudicantur stulti: quia moribus sunt inculti. Cito oboedire, frequenter orare, devote meditari, diligenter laborare; libenter studere, discursus vitare, solitudinem diligere: devotum faciunt monachum et tranquillum animum. Legitur in Genesi quia Deus ad munera Abel respexit: ad Cain non aspexit. Quare?
Quia Abel innocens et humilis: Cain autem invidus et perversus. Esto Abel patiendo tibi molestum: non litiges cum is Cain ne perdas pacem et boni nominis famam. Melius est tibi rem tuam perdere: quam offendere Deum, et laedere fratrem ac frangere caritatem. Si vis lucrari thesaurum caelestem: proice a te terrae molem. Si cupis honorem perennem: despice gloriam temporalem. Si desideras pacem: cave contentionis locum et irae radicem. Si vis magnus esse in caelo: esto parvulus in mundo. Non tes iustifices coram hominibus; quia vana laus humana: ubi accusat mala conscientia.
i Audax et verbosus ambo vituperabiles: modum rectum non servantes. Multiao fortes ceciderunt: quia nimis de se ipsis praesumpserunt. Multi infirmi convaluerunt: quia in Deo speraverunt et eum invocaverunt. Humilis et mansuetus: amabilem se facit omnibus. Austerus et srigidus: avertit sibi approximantes. Vincit sibi contrarios patiens et taciturnus: cum obsequio caritatis. Multiplicat amicos: qui libenter servit aliis et compatitur tribulatis; Qui nescit tacere cum tempus est: confundit se coram multis. Prudens est et habilis in artibus: qui scit se ipsum facere bonum et commendabilem in virtutibus.
Ille fortis est viribus: qui fortiter resistit vitiis. Magnus est dominus: qui dominatur pravis desideriis suis. Fortis est miles et bene armatus: qui carnem domat continentiae armis. Dignus est locari cum angelis in caelis: qui caste vivit in terris. Homo castus amicus Dei, et angelorum socius: virginum cognatus, et sanctorum civis amatus. Humilis et castus vincit daemones: et terret impudicos. Magnus est praelatus qui virtuose se regit: et dat? bonum exemplum subditis.
Ille dignus est laude bonorum: qui nititur sequi virtutes eorum. Nobilis est et ingenuus: quem nobilitat sua virtus. Pulcher hic est homo: qui mundus est a peccato. Malus et si ornatur foris: niger tamen est intus, Ille felix est et dives: qui gratia Dei plenus est et nil cupit honoris. Fatuus est et insanus qui amat sibi nociva: et dimittit animae salubria. Haec est sapientia divina quaerere bona sempiterna: et despicere omnia transitoria. quis a te appetit doceri: viam humilitatis ei ostende, et exemplo praecede. Verus humilis nescit inflari; spernit laudari, contemptus gaudet: laesus cito ignoscit.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gen.4.4-Gen.4.5 — And Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering. Gen.4.5 — but to Cain and to his offering he had no regard; and Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
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