Holy Wit

The sixth degree of humility is "that a monk be content with the poorest and worst of everything, and that in every occupation assigned him he consider himself a bad and worthless workman."

The fifth degree of humility is that "he hide from his Abbot none of the evil thoughts that enter his heart or the sins committed in secret, but that he humbly confess them."

The fourth degree of humility is "that he hold fast to patience with a silent mind when in this obedience he meets with difficulties and contradictions and even any kind of injustice, enduring all without growing weary or running away."

"Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38).

"Self-will hath its own punishments, but necessity winneth the crown."

"We must therefore guard against evil desires, because death hath his station near the entrance of pleasure."

We are rightfully taught not to do our own will when we guard against what Scripture teaches: 'There are ways that seem right to men, the end of which plunges them into hell.'"

"Let a man consider that God always seeth him from Heaven, that the eye of God beholdeth his works everywhere, and that the angels report them to Him every hour."

"The first degree of humility, then, is that a man always have the fear of God before his eyes, shunning all forgetfulness and that he be ever mindful of all that God hath commanded, that he always considereth in his mind how those who despise God will burn in hell for their sins, and that life everlasting is prepared for those who fear God. And whilst he guardeth himself evermore against sin and vices of thought, word, deed, and self-will, let him also hasten to cut off the desires of the flesh."

“Lord, my heart is not puffed up; nor are my eyes haughty. Neither have I walked in great matters nor in wonderful things above me.” What then? “If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul; as a child that is weaned is towards his mother so shalt Thou reward my soul.”

Let us do what the Prophet saith: “I said, I will take heed of my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I have set a guard to my mouth, I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence even from good things.” Here the prophet showeth that, if at times we ought to refrain from useful speech for the sake of silence, how much more ought we to abstain from evil words on account of the punishment due to sin.

"This obedience, however, will be acceptable to God and agreeable to men then only, if what is commanded is done without hesitation, delay, lukewarmness, grumbling or complaint, because the obedience which is rendered to Superiors is rendered to God."