Holy Rule for May 29
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St. Mary's Monastery
May 28, 2026, 5:48:13 PM (2 days ago) May 28
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 28, May 29, September 28
Chapter 7: On Humility (19-23)
As for self-will, we are forbidden to do our own will by the Scripture, which says to us, "Turn away from your own will" (Eccles.18:30), and likewise by the prayer in which we ask God that His will be done in us. And rightly are we taught not to do our own will when we take heed to the warning of Scripture: "There are ways which seem right, but the ends of them plunge into the depths of hell" (Prov.16:25); and also when we tremble at what is said of the careless: "They are corrupt and have become abominable in their will." And as for the desires of the flesh, let us believe with the Prophet that God is ever present to us, when he says to the Lord, "Every desire of mine is before You" (Ps.37:10).
REFLECTION
Revolutions usually have several things in common: they go too far in some areas, not far enough in others and they tend to brand those not agreeing with them as criminal or psychotic. Look at Soviet Russia for most of the 20th century and you will see all of these. Look further back to the French Revolution and you will find that 1917 in Petrograd offered nothing new, perhaps new names for certain aspects, but nothing else.
The last decades of the 20th century saw a tremendous psychological revolution in the West. Its effects were perhaps greatest in some religious circles, where those once wary of psychology now embraced it more or less wholesale.
Pieces of our psycho-spiritual world view definitely needed change and correction. Unfortunately, like the Bolsheviks and French before them, the revolutionaries shot the Imperial family and guillotined a lot of otherwise very fine people. Their zeal went a bit too far and they were often followed unquestioningly. If one did question one was either totally discounted or "enlightened" as to the new way of things post haste, yet again like the revolutions in Russia and France- frighteningly so!
In those years, a close and scathing look was taken at religious obedience and the personal will. It certainly was necessary. A lot needed examination and sometimes, change.
Sadly, but predictably, the pendulum swung in a very un-Benedictine fashion to the opposite extreme: question everything and accept nothing. Personal will, formerly maligned as a foolish, worthless and even dangerous entity was now elevated to lofty, noble heights that it frankly did not deserve. Not astoundingly, both extremes missed the middle road of truth.
Human will is at once both potentially noble and flawed. Without God and grace assisting, the prognosis is not good. For us, however, God's grace and aid ARE available, but they come at the price of cooperation and cooperation demands a certain sacrifice of our own wills, often even a total sacrifice of them.
It is perhaps harder for us to see the necessity of abandoning our wills than it has been for many before us. We are traipsing through the spiritual road with all kinds of extraneous, late 20th century baggage about autonomy and maturity and self-actualization carried to false extremes.
Balance, always balance, always moderation in the Benedictine way! Our wills can be good and wonderful. It is, after all, with our wills that we answer God's call. But part of His call is to forget the self and forget its willful tantrums.
A good superior will keep one from being too easy on oneself, but will also protect one from being too hard on oneself. I cannot tell you the number of times submitting a matter to my superior has resulted in something FAR less gruesome than what I had obsessively planned for myself! Obedience can and does protect us!
Some of the wonderful things said about personal will are true, to a point, but the revolution failed to emphasize the fact that our wills do NOT come with gyroscopes or guarantees. As such, their trustworthiness as compasses is far from absolute. The superior, the Rule, the Gospel, these are the gyroscopes that enable us to will true North! Without these helps, our journey could very easily make the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (or the maiden voyage of the Titanic, if one prefers...) look like a Sunday afternoon swan boat ride in Boston's Public Gardens.
Finally, St. Benedict supports his argument with Scripture. It's a clever way of saying: "Hey, you want to argue this? Take it up with God." That's where he threw the gauntlet, all those years ago. No one in their right mind would dare pick it up.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 28, May 29, September 28
Chapter 7: On Humility (19-23)
As for self-will, we are forbidden to do our own will by the Scripture, which says to us, "Turn away from your own will" (Eccles.18:30), and likewise by the prayer in which we ask God that His will be done in us. And rightly are we taught not to do our own will when we take heed to the warning of Scripture: "There are ways which seem right, but the ends of them plunge into the depths of hell" (Prov.16:25); and also when we tremble at what is said of the careless: "They are corrupt and have become abominable in their will." And as for the desires of the flesh, let us believe with the Prophet that God is ever present to us, when he says to the Lord, "Every desire of mine is before You" (Ps.37:10).
REFLECTION
Revolutions usually have several things in common: they go too far in some areas, not far enough in others and they tend to brand those not agreeing with them as criminal or psychotic. Look at Soviet Russia for most of the 20th century and you will see all of these. Look further back to the French Revolution and you will find that 1917 in Petrograd offered nothing new, perhaps new names for certain aspects, but nothing else.
The last decades of the 20th century saw a tremendous psychological revolution in the West. Its effects were perhaps greatest in some religious circles, where those once wary of psychology now embraced it more or less wholesale.
Pieces of our psycho-spiritual world view definitely needed change and correction. Unfortunately, like the Bolsheviks and French before them, the revolutionaries shot the Imperial family and guillotined a lot of otherwise very fine people. Their zeal went a bit too far and they were often followed unquestioningly. If one did question one was either totally discounted or "enlightened" as to the new way of things post haste, yet again like the revolutions in Russia and France- frighteningly so!
In those years, a close and scathing look was taken at religious obedience and the personal will. It certainly was necessary. A lot needed examination and sometimes, change.
Sadly, but predictably, the pendulum swung in a very un-Benedictine fashion to the opposite extreme: question everything and accept nothing. Personal will, formerly maligned as a foolish, worthless and even dangerous entity was now elevated to lofty, noble heights that it frankly did not deserve. Not astoundingly, both extremes missed the middle road of truth.
Human will is at once both potentially noble and flawed. Without God and grace assisting, the prognosis is not good. For us, however, God's grace and aid ARE available, but they come at the price of cooperation and cooperation demands a certain sacrifice of our own wills, often even a total sacrifice of them.
It is perhaps harder for us to see the necessity of abandoning our wills than it has been for many before us. We are traipsing through the spiritual road with all kinds of extraneous, late 20th century baggage about autonomy and maturity and self-actualization carried to false extremes.
Balance, always balance, always moderation in the Benedictine way! Our wills can be good and wonderful. It is, after all, with our wills that we answer God's call. But part of His call is to forget the self and forget its willful tantrums.
A good superior will keep one from being too easy on oneself, but will also protect one from being too hard on oneself. I cannot tell you the number of times submitting a matter to my superior has resulted in something FAR less gruesome than what I had obsessively planned for myself! Obedience can and does protect us!
Some of the wonderful things said about personal will are true, to a point, but the revolution failed to emphasize the fact that our wills do NOT come with gyroscopes or guarantees. As such, their trustworthiness as compasses is far from absolute. The superior, the Rule, the Gospel, these are the gyroscopes that enable us to will true North! Without these helps, our journey could very easily make the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (or the maiden voyage of the Titanic, if one prefers...) look like a Sunday afternoon swan boat ride in Boston's Public Gardens.
Finally, St. Benedict supports his argument with Scripture. It's a clever way of saying: "Hey, you want to argue this? Take it up with God." That's where he threw the gauntlet, all those years ago. No one in their right mind would dare pick it up.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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