Holy Scripture, brethren, cries out to us, saying,
\n“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled,
\nand he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
\nIn saying this it shows us
\nthat all exaltation is a kind of pride,
\nagainst which the Prophet proves himself to be on guard
\nwhen he says,
\n“Lord, my heart is not exalted,
\nnor are mine eyes lifted up;
\nneither have I walked in great matters,
\nnor in wonders above me” (Ps. 130[131]:1)
\nBut how has he acted?
\n“Rather have I been of humble mind
\nthan exalting myself;
\nas a weaned child on its mother’s breast,
\nso You solace my soul” (Ps. 130[131]:2).<\/p>\n
Hence, brethren,
\nif we wish to reach the very highest point of humility
\nand to arrive speedily at that heavenly exaltation
\nto which ascent is made through the humility of this present life,
\nwe must
\nby our ascending actions
\nerect the ladder Jacob saw in his dream,
\non which Angels appeared to him descending and ascending.
\nBy that descent and ascent
\nwe must surely understand nothing else than this,
\nthat we descend by self-exaltation and ascend by humility.
\nAnd the ladder thus set up is our life in the world,
\nwhich the Lord raises up to heaven if our heart is humbled.
\nFor we call our body and soul the sides of the ladder,
\nand into these sides our divine vocation has inserted
\nthe different steps of humility and discipline we must climb.<\/p>\n
–The Rule of Benedict, Chapter 7<\/p>\n
\nMar 21: Feast of Benedict of Nursia (c. \u2020480); founder of Monte Cassino; #Europe<\/a>‘s patron saint<\/p>\n
[BL Arundel 155 f133 @britishlibrary<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/Uy51SzUgLE<\/a>] pic.twitter.com\/6izqiNaPvy<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Peritia (@PeritiaEditors) March 21, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n