Twelve Steps to Inner Freedom: Humility Revisited

Humility is the virtue which leads to all others, including Faith, Hope and Charity. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. Saint Benedict in his Rule for monks stresses nothing at such great length except the ordering of the Divine Office as he does the path to Humility. Benedictine nun Sister Joan Chittister, receiver of the 1992 US Catholic Award for her work in justice, peace and equality, wrote this treatise with a life time of serving Saint Benedict, including as President of the association of American prioresses. As the title of this theological treatise indicates, Saint Benedict defines twelve steps to humility essential for each of the monks living his Holy Rule available here in several formats including The Rule of Saint Benedict, RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict and Rule of Saint Benedict in English. Also readily and favorably available here is Sister JOan's own full length commentaries, including Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today and The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages (Crossroad Spiritual Legacy Series). Also deeply moving as lectio divina is her The Benedictine way: A novena. See also Living the Rule today: A series of conferences on the Rule of Benedict and Wisdom Distilled from the Daily Leader's Guide: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. Here in this present substantial text she describes the twelve steps to the Benedictine virtue of humility, which "can bring harmony to the soul and peace to the world." We need this most today to build the peace and love our world so lacks now, to rebuild our Catholic Church in its authentic tradition, with the authority of humility, with the charity and tolerance of humility, with gentle and heroic humility. Read this book as lectio divina in the most intimate part of your heart. Remember humility.