Good Things Happen When You're Humble at Work - Part 4
Again, we continue our discussion of how and why good things happen
when you're humble at work. Drawing from the "Twelve Degrees of
Humility" in the Rule of St. Benedict, having covered 1 through 8, today we focus on the balance, 9 through 12. Remember that these were originally addressed to monks
living in an enclosed monastic community. So we non-monks need to
interpolate St. Benedict's advice to fit into our non-monk work world.
"The ninth degree of humility is that a monk restrain his tongue and keep silence, not speaking until he is questioned. For Scripture showeth that 'in much talking thou canst not avoid sin (Prov. 10:19); and that 'the talkative man shall not prosper on the earth.' (Ps. 139:12)"
Monk or not, restraining the tongue builds our spiritual life. For us non-monks, two quick examples:
We avoid, or do not engage in, any form of gossip or detraction. We don't talk about or say things that denigrate others. Instead, we keep our counsel. In other words, we keep silent.
With tongue restrained, silence becomes our baseline during the work day. In moments of silence, we can turn our mind to God - at least on occasion. So besides offering up our actual work, we can acknowledge - even if only for a moment or two - His Presence.
"The tenth degree of humility is that he be not ready and prompt to laughter, for it is written: 'The fool lifteth up his voice in laughter.' (Ecclus. 21:23)"
It's not a matter of being a sourpuss. It's a matter of not always looking to joke and make light of everything. You can be cheerful without guffawing all the time.
"The eleventh degree of humility is that a monk, when he speaks, do so gently and without laughter, humbly and seriously, in few and sensible words, and without clamour. It is written: 'A man is known by the fewness of his words.' (From the 'Sentences of Sextus')"
Look at it this way: Do you enjoy the company of "loudmouths"? Given the choice, which would you rather be: a loudmouth, or a quiet, thoughtful sort of fellow. And which do you think others would most appreciate?
"The twelfth degree of humility is that a monk should not only be humble of heart, but should also in his behaviour always manifest his humility to those who look upon him...Let him constantly say in his heart what was said with downcast eyes by the publican in the Gospel: 'Lord, I a sinner am not worthy to raise mine eyes to heaven' (Luke 18:13)..."
True humility manifests itself in our thoughts and words and actions. So don't focus on how you "should" appear here. There's no need to walk about looking at the floor.
I bring this up because, when I first read this, I actually did try to "appear" humble. It's kind of an embarrassing confession, but it's true. And, as you've likely guessed, I wasn't actually humble after all that. Maybe I thought the behavior would generate the actual humility. Who knows? In any event, it certainly was misplaced behavior.
So there we have the Twelve Degrees of Humility according to St. Benedict in his Holy Rule. Intended for monks, we've managed to interpolate each to apply to us Catholic men working in the world outside the monastery enclosure. Since I read the Rule each morning, and the entire rule is repeated three times during the year, I estimate I've read these Twelve Degrees of Humility at least thirty times. Each pass-through teaches me something new about humility and about myself. What I learn about humility can help me in my daily struggle for salvation. (As for what I've learned about myself, that would be best left unsaid!)
So what are the consequences of a deeper understanding and practice of the virtue of humility? Let's allow St. Benedict to explain:
"Then, when all these degrees of humility have been climbed, the monk will presently come to that perfect love of God which casts out all fear; whereby he will begin to observe without labour, as though naturally and by habit, all those precepts which formerly he did not observe without fear: no longer for hear of hell, but for love of Christ and through good habit and delight in virtue. And this will the Lord deign to show forth by the power of his Spirit in his workman now cleansed from vice and from sin."
If you read his remarks carefully, you now know how critically important building the virtue of humility will be for your spiritual life. And in applying those efforts throughout the work day, I hope you'll learn how and why good things happen when you're humble at work.
"The ninth degree of humility is that a monk restrain his tongue and keep silence, not speaking until he is questioned. For Scripture showeth that 'in much talking thou canst not avoid sin (Prov. 10:19); and that 'the talkative man shall not prosper on the earth.' (Ps. 139:12)"
Monk or not, restraining the tongue builds our spiritual life. For us non-monks, two quick examples:
We avoid, or do not engage in, any form of gossip or detraction. We don't talk about or say things that denigrate others. Instead, we keep our counsel. In other words, we keep silent.
With tongue restrained, silence becomes our baseline during the work day. In moments of silence, we can turn our mind to God - at least on occasion. So besides offering up our actual work, we can acknowledge - even if only for a moment or two - His Presence.
"The tenth degree of humility is that he be not ready and prompt to laughter, for it is written: 'The fool lifteth up his voice in laughter.' (Ecclus. 21:23)"
It's not a matter of being a sourpuss. It's a matter of not always looking to joke and make light of everything. You can be cheerful without guffawing all the time.
"The eleventh degree of humility is that a monk, when he speaks, do so gently and without laughter, humbly and seriously, in few and sensible words, and without clamour. It is written: 'A man is known by the fewness of his words.' (From the 'Sentences of Sextus')"
Look at it this way: Do you enjoy the company of "loudmouths"? Given the choice, which would you rather be: a loudmouth, or a quiet, thoughtful sort of fellow. And which do you think others would most appreciate?
"The twelfth degree of humility is that a monk should not only be humble of heart, but should also in his behaviour always manifest his humility to those who look upon him...Let him constantly say in his heart what was said with downcast eyes by the publican in the Gospel: 'Lord, I a sinner am not worthy to raise mine eyes to heaven' (Luke 18:13)..."
True humility manifests itself in our thoughts and words and actions. So don't focus on how you "should" appear here. There's no need to walk about looking at the floor.
I bring this up because, when I first read this, I actually did try to "appear" humble. It's kind of an embarrassing confession, but it's true. And, as you've likely guessed, I wasn't actually humble after all that. Maybe I thought the behavior would generate the actual humility. Who knows? In any event, it certainly was misplaced behavior.
So there we have the Twelve Degrees of Humility according to St. Benedict in his Holy Rule. Intended for monks, we've managed to interpolate each to apply to us Catholic men working in the world outside the monastery enclosure. Since I read the Rule each morning, and the entire rule is repeated three times during the year, I estimate I've read these Twelve Degrees of Humility at least thirty times. Each pass-through teaches me something new about humility and about myself. What I learn about humility can help me in my daily struggle for salvation. (As for what I've learned about myself, that would be best left unsaid!)
So what are the consequences of a deeper understanding and practice of the virtue of humility? Let's allow St. Benedict to explain:
"Then, when all these degrees of humility have been climbed, the monk will presently come to that perfect love of God which casts out all fear; whereby he will begin to observe without labour, as though naturally and by habit, all those precepts which formerly he did not observe without fear: no longer for hear of hell, but for love of Christ and through good habit and delight in virtue. And this will the Lord deign to show forth by the power of his Spirit in his workman now cleansed from vice and from sin."
If you read his remarks carefully, you now know how critically important building the virtue of humility will be for your spiritual life. And in applying those efforts throughout the work day, I hope you'll learn how and why good things happen when you're humble at work.
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