A piece I read regularly keeps me informed of the huge Catholic world (huge because they have over one billion adherents worldwide) and popular spiritual issues. That publication has regular writers who routinely offer insight that I would hate to miss. One of those writers is the now elderly Benedictine nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister is a nun at the Benedictine monastery in Erie, PA. She is well-known for her long-time work for social justice. She has been a leader in her own monastery, within the larger American religious sisters and, indeed, worldwide. When Chittister talks, folks listen. I have immense respect for her.
For some time, she has been focused on the section in St. Benedict’s Rule on humility. This sixth century rule offers guidelines for life within the Benedictine monastery. As such, it is a document Chittister knows well and still appreciates. The Rule is divided into 73 chapters, many of which are quite short. Chapter 7 is an exception. It lays out twelve steps of humility and this sequence has been Chittister’s focus for a while. The steps are fairly simple and still quite useful in today’s world
In her latest installment she has come to the twelfth step of humility. I will use her version of the translation of the original Latin text: "The twelfth step of humility is that we always manifest humility in our bearing no less than in our hearts, so that it is evident ... whether sitting walking or standing." She has it in italics. That is ok; it makes it more important in my opinion.
I would like to share some of Chittister’s commentary because it is so rich in meaning and relevance for today’s spiritual life.
The first important point she makes is this: “The operational word here is ‘evident.’” She says the time has come: “At this point all theorizing ends.” It is time to get serious. She is very clear. “No, here at the top of the ladder of the steps to humility is the challenge to be humble, to become humility itself. No words, no prayers, no public penitential disciplines required. Just the power of humble presence itself.” I like the simplicity of her writing. There is no chance to misunderstand.
In the popular slang of our day, it is time to walk the talk…time actually to be humble and that evidently. But now we get the playful aspect of Chittister that I have come to expect and that I so much enjoy. If there is such a thing as an ornery nun, Chittister surely qualifies. I think she probably is just that: ornery.
This comes through when she offers her modern translation of the twelfth step of humility. “All right, enough already. No more posturing. No more 'dressing for success.' No more grand entrances at the meeting, or loud jokes to get the attention of the crowd. No more need for special places at the table. No more expectation of my right to control any other human being. No more rolling my eyes rather than listening when someone else is talking.” These short sentences make humility come alive. We now know what it means to be humble in an evident way---a way that actually shows.
This list nails me and my action. I am sure I have done my share of posturing. Of course, I probably would have denied it. And that confirms I have not managed to be humble. Surely as a Quaker, I have never made a grand entrance! And just as surely, I am lying. Of course, I have made such entrances---probably still do! I am less likely to be guilty of the loud jokes to gain attention. That is not my style. But I am stylish in other ways.
I shudder at the thought that I have ever supposed I had the right to control other people. But if I am honest with myself, I realize I have. I would not have called it control. But I know there are times and ways I have manipulated situations and folks. Since I am pretty good at it, it was blatant (at least in my eyes!). Rolling my eyes is a sin most of us acknowledge. I can admit that Chittister nails me with this new translation.
If we can practice humility, Chittister tells us this becomes “the moment of integrity, of community, of wholeness.” That is good news---news I very much want. If humility is the way to this reality, I am really going to try to grow into it. Chittister teaches me that humility is not some kind of “add on” to normal life. Instead she instructs, “From where I stand, the way we carry ourselves and talk and look and speak and walk with those around us is the only real proof of our humility.” Humility happens in real life---or it does not happen at all.
I am grateful to this Benedictine nun for helping me learn how to live a more authentic, spiritual life. It is never too late. We are never incapable. It is never too difficult. We have to be willing. We have to be willing to get over ourselves. Then we can become what Merton calls our “true self.”
For some time, she has been focused on the section in St. Benedict’s Rule on humility. This sixth century rule offers guidelines for life within the Benedictine monastery. As such, it is a document Chittister knows well and still appreciates. The Rule is divided into 73 chapters, many of which are quite short. Chapter 7 is an exception. It lays out twelve steps of humility and this sequence has been Chittister’s focus for a while. The steps are fairly simple and still quite useful in today’s world
In her latest installment she has come to the twelfth step of humility. I will use her version of the translation of the original Latin text: "The twelfth step of humility is that we always manifest humility in our bearing no less than in our hearts, so that it is evident ... whether sitting walking or standing." She has it in italics. That is ok; it makes it more important in my opinion.
I would like to share some of Chittister’s commentary because it is so rich in meaning and relevance for today’s spiritual life.
The first important point she makes is this: “The operational word here is ‘evident.’” She says the time has come: “At this point all theorizing ends.” It is time to get serious. She is very clear. “No, here at the top of the ladder of the steps to humility is the challenge to be humble, to become humility itself. No words, no prayers, no public penitential disciplines required. Just the power of humble presence itself.” I like the simplicity of her writing. There is no chance to misunderstand.
In the popular slang of our day, it is time to walk the talk…time actually to be humble and that evidently. But now we get the playful aspect of Chittister that I have come to expect and that I so much enjoy. If there is such a thing as an ornery nun, Chittister surely qualifies. I think she probably is just that: ornery.
This comes through when she offers her modern translation of the twelfth step of humility. “All right, enough already. No more posturing. No more 'dressing for success.' No more grand entrances at the meeting, or loud jokes to get the attention of the crowd. No more need for special places at the table. No more expectation of my right to control any other human being. No more rolling my eyes rather than listening when someone else is talking.” These short sentences make humility come alive. We now know what it means to be humble in an evident way---a way that actually shows.
This list nails me and my action. I am sure I have done my share of posturing. Of course, I probably would have denied it. And that confirms I have not managed to be humble. Surely as a Quaker, I have never made a grand entrance! And just as surely, I am lying. Of course, I have made such entrances---probably still do! I am less likely to be guilty of the loud jokes to gain attention. That is not my style. But I am stylish in other ways.
I shudder at the thought that I have ever supposed I had the right to control other people. But if I am honest with myself, I realize I have. I would not have called it control. But I know there are times and ways I have manipulated situations and folks. Since I am pretty good at it, it was blatant (at least in my eyes!). Rolling my eyes is a sin most of us acknowledge. I can admit that Chittister nails me with this new translation.
If we can practice humility, Chittister tells us this becomes “the moment of integrity, of community, of wholeness.” That is good news---news I very much want. If humility is the way to this reality, I am really going to try to grow into it. Chittister teaches me that humility is not some kind of “add on” to normal life. Instead she instructs, “From where I stand, the way we carry ourselves and talk and look and speak and walk with those around us is the only real proof of our humility.” Humility happens in real life---or it does not happen at all.
I am grateful to this Benedictine nun for helping me learn how to live a more authentic, spiritual life. It is never too late. We are never incapable. It is never too difficult. We have to be willing. We have to be willing to get over ourselves. Then we can become what Merton calls our “true self.”
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