Holy Rule for January 25
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St. Mary's Monastery
Jan 24, 2026, 5:08:01 PMJan 24
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 25, May 26, September 25
Chapter 7: On Humility (1-9)
Holy Scripture, Brethren, cries out to us, saying, "Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:11). In saying this it shows us that all exaltation is a kind of pride, against which the Prophet proves himself to be on guard when he says, "Lord, my heart is not exalted, nor are mine eyes lifted up; neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonders above me." But how has he acted? "Rather have I been of humble mind than exalting myself; as a weaned child on its mother's breast, so You solace my soul" (Ps.130:1-2).
Hence, brethren, if we wish to reach the very highest point of humility and to arrive speedily at that heavenly exaltation to which ascent is made through the humility of this present life, we must by our ascending actions erect the ladder Jacob saw in his dream, on which Angels appeared to him descending and ascending. By that descent and ascent we must surely understand nothing else than this, that we descend by self-exaltation and ascend by humility. And the ladder thus set up is our life in the world, which the Lord raises up to heaven if our heart is humbled. For we call our body and soul the sides of the ladder, and into these sides our divine vocation has inserted the different steps of humility and discipline we must climb.
REFLECTION
Today we begin St. Benedict's extensive treatment of humility. Humility and obedience are so closely linked that it is virtually impossible to speak of one without adding the other. Since both are essential Benedictine virtues, it is easy to say that there is no such thing as a holy Benedictine who has not climbed or is not climbing this ladder. I have never known a holy monk who was not humble, in fact, along with charity, it was usually their most outstanding trait.
Some of this chapter will grate on modern ears. I will be the first to admit that some people need assertiveness training. However, in my experience, most of us do not. Most of us manage to be assertive on a daily- even hourly- basis without much difficulty. Remember, too, that modern psychology is a science which, like all science, is limited to observable data.
Hence, it is not surprising that the generalities of psychology deal with relations between people and things. The catch here is that the humility St. Benedict speaks of is rooted in relationship of humans to God, a sphere in which psychology finds itself woefully out of its element. It lacks the supernatural basis of faith; this impedes it in this area. Balance, always balance. Keep God in focus in these areas. The model is His greatness, not our own.
A quickie on the Psalm quote today: "...neither have I walked in great matters, nor in matters above me." This was a favorite of Brother Patrick Creamer, my mentor. He learned to do it quite well and in just 46 years or so!! He'd laugh at my saying that.
I speak as one who has been all too focused at many times on the monastic soap opera and its hand-wringing tempests in teacups. About many things, even most, we must learn simply not to get upset, not to trouble ourselves with matters too great, even though we may have to call them "great" with an inner, rueful chuckle.
That's not apathy, simply a frank admission that, in many cases, others have charge of areas so that the rest need NOT worry or concern themselves. The purpose of the division of responsibility is to give the community the chance to focus their energy on the one thing really needful. This is especially true in monasteries, but the principle has applications in the workplace, too. In the latter, there may be times when one is morally obliged to get involved, but the key word is "morally". About trivia or non-essentials in any milieu, shrug, say nothing and keep your sanity.
You will never have peace until you learn to leave all that alone, to distrust it for the empty and tragic charade that it truly is. And you will never get anywhere if you don't have peace. The road to that peace is humility and love and mercy, always mercy!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 25, May 26, September 25
Chapter 7: On Humility (1-9)
Holy Scripture, Brethren, cries out to us, saying, "Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:11). In saying this it shows us that all exaltation is a kind of pride, against which the Prophet proves himself to be on guard when he says, "Lord, my heart is not exalted, nor are mine eyes lifted up; neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonders above me." But how has he acted? "Rather have I been of humble mind than exalting myself; as a weaned child on its mother's breast, so You solace my soul" (Ps.130:1-2).
Hence, brethren, if we wish to reach the very highest point of humility and to arrive speedily at that heavenly exaltation to which ascent is made through the humility of this present life, we must by our ascending actions erect the ladder Jacob saw in his dream, on which Angels appeared to him descending and ascending. By that descent and ascent we must surely understand nothing else than this, that we descend by self-exaltation and ascend by humility. And the ladder thus set up is our life in the world, which the Lord raises up to heaven if our heart is humbled. For we call our body and soul the sides of the ladder, and into these sides our divine vocation has inserted the different steps of humility and discipline we must climb.
REFLECTION
Today we begin St. Benedict's extensive treatment of humility. Humility and obedience are so closely linked that it is virtually impossible to speak of one without adding the other. Since both are essential Benedictine virtues, it is easy to say that there is no such thing as a holy Benedictine who has not climbed or is not climbing this ladder. I have never known a holy monk who was not humble, in fact, along with charity, it was usually their most outstanding trait.
Some of this chapter will grate on modern ears. I will be the first to admit that some people need assertiveness training. However, in my experience, most of us do not. Most of us manage to be assertive on a daily- even hourly- basis without much difficulty. Remember, too, that modern psychology is a science which, like all science, is limited to observable data.
Hence, it is not surprising that the generalities of psychology deal with relations between people and things. The catch here is that the humility St. Benedict speaks of is rooted in relationship of humans to God, a sphere in which psychology finds itself woefully out of its element. It lacks the supernatural basis of faith; this impedes it in this area. Balance, always balance. Keep God in focus in these areas. The model is His greatness, not our own.
A quickie on the Psalm quote today: "...neither have I walked in great matters, nor in matters above me." This was a favorite of Brother Patrick Creamer, my mentor. He learned to do it quite well and in just 46 years or so!! He'd laugh at my saying that.
I speak as one who has been all too focused at many times on the monastic soap opera and its hand-wringing tempests in teacups. About many things, even most, we must learn simply not to get upset, not to trouble ourselves with matters too great, even though we may have to call them "great" with an inner, rueful chuckle.
That's not apathy, simply a frank admission that, in many cases, others have charge of areas so that the rest need NOT worry or concern themselves. The purpose of the division of responsibility is to give the community the chance to focus their energy on the one thing really needful. This is especially true in monasteries, but the principle has applications in the workplace, too. In the latter, there may be times when one is morally obliged to get involved, but the key word is "morally". About trivia or non-essentials in any milieu, shrug, say nothing and keep your sanity.
You will never have peace until you learn to leave all that alone, to distrust it for the empty and tragic charade that it truly is. And you will never get anywhere if you don't have peace. The road to that peace is humility and love and mercy, always mercy!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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