Bernard of ClairvauxBernard of Clairvaux

““In the steps of In the steps of humility…”humility…”

Bernard’s first book Bernard’s first book (a commentary (a commentary on the 7on the 7thth chapter chapter of the Rule of St of the Rule of St Benedict).Benedict).

Rule of BenedictRule of Benedict

• Chapter 7: “On humility”Chapter 7: “On humility”

Brethren, Holy Scripture Brethren, Holy Scripture cries out to us, saying, cries out to us, saying, “Everyone who exalts “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:11).(Luke 14:11).

““If we wish to reach the very highest point of humilityIf we wish to reach the very highest point of humilityand to arrive speedily at that heavenly exaltationand to arrive speedily at that heavenly exaltationto which ascent is made through the humility of this to which ascent is made through the humility of this present life, we must by our ascending actions erect the present life, we must by our ascending actions erect the ladder Jacob saw in his dream, on which angels ladder Jacob saw in his dream, on which angels appeared to him descending and ascending.appeared to him descending and ascending.

By that descent and ascent we must surely understand By that descent and ascent we must surely understand nothing else than this, that nothing else than this, that we descend by self-we descend by self-exaltation and ascend by humilityexaltation and ascend by humility..

And the ladder thus set up is our life in the world, which 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 the Lord raises up to heaven if our heart is humbled. For we call our body and soul the sides of the ladder, and we call our body and soul the sides of the ladder, and into these sides our divine vocation has inserted the into these sides our divine vocation has inserted the different steps of humility and discipline we must climb.” different steps of humility and discipline we must climb.”

(BENEDICT)(BENEDICT)

In the steps of In the steps of humilityhumility

““All of you, clothe yourselves with All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:51 Peter 5:5

Stairway to heavenStairway to heaven

Ladder of divine ascent

Jacob’s ladder

The 12 steps (of The 12 steps (of humility)humility)

12. Outward manifestation of interior humility (head bowed, 12. Outward manifestation of interior humility (head bowed, eyes downcast) eyes downcast)

11. Seriousness: speak in few & sensible words, gently, without 11. Seriousness: speak in few & sensible words, gently, without laughterlaughter

10. Stifling ready laughter and giggling10. Stifling ready laughter and giggling9. Speaking only when asked a question9. Speaking only when asked a question8. Obey & be guided by the common rule of the community8. Obey & be guided by the common rule of the community7. Declare (& believe) oneself inferior to all others7. Declare (& believe) oneself inferior to all others6. Contentment with the lowest and most menial task6. Contentment with the lowest and most menial task5. Confession of sinful thoughts and secret wrong-doings5. Confession of sinful thoughts and secret wrong-doings4. Obedience & patience in difficult, contrary or even unjust 4. Obedience & patience in difficult, contrary or even unjust

conditionsconditions3. Submission in obedience to one’s superiors for love of God3. Submission in obedience to one’s superiors for love of God2. Repression of self-will & seeking to fulfill one’s own desires2. Repression of self-will & seeking to fulfill one’s own desires1. Keep oneself from sin every day, out of fear of God1. Keep oneself from sin every day, out of fear of God

Climbing up & falling down Climbing up & falling down the same ladder the same ladder

““A prince mounts his throne by the same steps A prince mounts his throne by the same steps as he comes down from it; the road leading us as he comes down from it; the road leading us to a city also brings us away from it; we open to a city also brings us away from it; we open a door to enter a house as we shut when we a door to enter a house as we shut when we leave it; and Jacob saw only one ladder with leave it; and Jacob saw only one ladder with angels ascending and descending…angels ascending and descending…

The 12The 12thth degree of pride is for him who is degree of pride is for him who is slipping down, what the 1slipping down, what the 1stst degree of humility degree of humility is for him who climbs upward.” (pp.49-50 St is for him who climbs upward.” (pp.49-50 St Austin Press ed.)Austin Press ed.)

The 12 steps (of pride)The 12 steps (of pride)1.1. Inquisitiveness (wandering off, of sights & senses)Inquisitiveness (wandering off, of sights & senses)2.2. Instability of mind (fluctuating between joy & sadness)Instability of mind (fluctuating between joy & sadness)3.3. Frivolity (as seen in over-readiness to laugh)Frivolity (as seen in over-readiness to laugh)4.4. Indiscipline: the uncontrolled outpouring of every thought Indiscipline: the uncontrolled outpouring of every thought

one hasone has5.5. Singular boasting of one’s deedsSingular boasting of one’s deeds6.6. Arrogance: thinking of oneself as holier than all othersArrogance: thinking of oneself as holier than all others7.7. Presumption: following one’s own opinion in everything & Presumption: following one’s own opinion in everything &

forcing it on othersforcing it on others8.8. Self-justification in wrong doingSelf-justification in wrong doing9.9. False confession (contrary to patience amidst difficulties)False confession (contrary to patience amidst difficulties)10.10. Rebellion against one’s brothers or superiorsRebellion against one’s brothers or superiors11.11. Freedom to sin with the absence of shameFreedom to sin with the absence of shame12.12. A habit of sinningA habit of sinning

The goal of humility?The goal of humility?

• Truth Truth (pp.21-23)(pp.21-23)

• Love Love (p.24)(p.24)

• God God (p. 43)(p. 43)

Statue at Monastery of the Annunciation,

Bismarck, ND)

The paragon of humility?The paragon of humility?

““Now Moses was a very humble Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” else on the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3Numbers 12:3

The law of humilityThe law of humility• Remember how the LORD your God led you all the Remember how the LORD your God led you all the

way in the wilderness these forty years, way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble to humble and test youand test you in order to know what was in your in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. commands. He humbled youHe humbled you, causing you to , causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that people do not live on bread alone but on you that people do not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. LORD. Deut. 8:2-3Deut. 8:2-3

• He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, something your ancestors had never known, to to humble and test youhumble and test you so that in the end it might go so that in the end it might go well with you. well with you. Deut. 8:16Deut. 8:16

The wisdom of humilityThe wisdom of humility

““When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdomwith humility comes wisdom.” .” Proverbs 11:2Proverbs 11:2

““The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, and humility comes before honour.” and humility comes before honour.” Proverbs 15:33Proverbs 15:33

““Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honour.” humility goes before honour.” Proverbs 18:12Proverbs 18:12

““The The reward of humilityreward of humility and the fear of the LORD and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life.” are riches, honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4Proverbs 22:4

The call of the prophetThe call of the prophet

““Seek the LORD, all you humble of the Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who have carried out his earth who have carried out his ordinances. Seek righteousness, ordinances. Seek righteousness, seek seek humilityhumility.” .” Zephaniah 2:3Zephaniah 2:3

The example of ChristThe example of Christ““Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if

there is any consolation of love, if there is any there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,  make my joy complete by being of compassion,  make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mindwith humility of mind regard one another as more regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. interests of others.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesusin Christ Jesus…” …” Philippians 2:1-5Philippians 2:1-5

The message of JamesThe message of James

““Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and and the evil that is so prevalent and in humilityin humility accept the word planted in you, which can save youaccept the word planted in you, which can save you

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:20-22James 1:20-22

““Who is wise and understanding among you? Let Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by them show it by their good life, by deeds done in deeds done in the humilitythe humility that comes from wisdom.” that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13James 3:13

The example of PaulThe example of Paul

““You yourselves know, from the first day You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews.” plots of the Jews.” Acts 20:18-19Acts 20:18-19

The message of PaulThe message of Paul

““Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been the calling with which you have been called,  called,  with all humilitywith all humility and gentleness, and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3Ephesians 4:1-3

The message of PaulThe message of Paul

““Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, dearly loved, clothe yourselves withclothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, compassion, kindness, humilityhumility, gentleness , gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” forgave you.” Colossians 3:11-13Colossians 3:11-13

Key questions to Key questions to considerconsider

• What factors in his life played a part in the What factors in his life played a part in the realization of this virtue?realization of this virtue?

• In what ways did Bernard seek to live this out?In what ways did Bernard seek to live this out?

• What contradictions do we see in a life of What contradictions do we see in a life of humility in Bernard?humility in Bernard?

• What role does this virtue play in the What role does this virtue play in the formation of a missional leader?formation of a missional leader?

• Is humility a characteristic of God?Is humility a characteristic of God?

Bernard & HildegardBernard & HildegardComparisons & contrastsComparisons & contrasts

1090-1153 French Abbot & spiritual

theologian

1098-1179 German

Abbess & visionary