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  THE TWELFTH DEGREE OF HUMILITY
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
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Summary: The twelfth degree of humility is manifesting humility in
appearance and cultivating a sense of guilt for sins, leading to perfect
love of God and delight in virtues.

Topics: "Christian Humility", "Spiritual Growth"
Scripture References: Psalm 37:7, Psalm 119:107, Matthew 8:8, Luke 18:13, Romans 8:15, Galatians 5:22, 1 John 4:18-19

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Benedict of Nursia preaches about the twelfth degree of humility,
emphasizing the importance of manifesting humility not only in the heart
but also in appearance, by always having a posture of reverence and
acknowledging one's sins. He encourages monks to constantly feel the
guilt of their sins, be mindful of the judgment day, and humbly confess
their unworthiness before God. By climbing the steps of humility, monks
can attain perfect love of God, which eliminates fear and motivates them
to follow God's precepts out of love for Christ and delight in virtues.

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CONTENT
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The twelfth degree of humility is that a monk not only have humility in
his heart but also by his very appearance make it always manifest to
those who see him. That is to say that whether he is at the Work of God,
in the oratory, in the monastery, in the garden, on the road, in the
fields or anywhere else, and whether sitting, walking or standing, he
should always have his head bowed and his eyes toward the ground.

Feeling the guilt of his sins at every moment, he should consider
himself already present at the dread Judgment and constantly say in his
heart what the publican in the Gospel said with his eyes fixed on the
earth: "Lord, I am a sinner and not worthy to lift up my eyes to heaven"
(Luke 18:13; Matt. 8:8); and again with the Prophet: "I am bowed down
and humbled everywhere" (Ps. 37[38]:7,9; 118[119]:107). Having climbed
all these steps of humility, therefore, the monk will presently come to
that perfect love of God which casts out fear. And all those precepts
which formerly he had not observed without fear, he will now begin to
keep by reason of that love, without any effort, as though naturally and
by habit.

No longer will his motive be the fear of hell, but rather the love of
Christ, good habit and delight in the virtues which the Lord will deign
to show forth by the Holy Spirit in His servant now cleansed from vice
and sin.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/the-twelfth-degree-of-humility/
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