1. Bernard of Clairvaux
“In the steps of
humility…”
Bernard’s first book
(a commentary
on the 7th chapter
of the Rule of St
Benedict).

2. Rule of Benedict
• Chapter 7: “On humility”
Brethren, Holy Scripture
cries out to us, saying,
“Everyone who exalts
himself shall be humbled,
and he who humbles
himself shall be exalted.”
(Luke 14:11).

3. “If we wish to reach the very highest point of humility
and to arrive speedily at that heavenly exaltation
to which ascent is made through the humility of this
present life, we must by our ascending actions erect
the ladder Jacob saw in his dream, on which angels
appeared to him descending and ascending.
By that descent and ascent we must surely
understand nothing else than this, that we descend
by self-exaltation and ascend by humility.
And the ladder thus set up is our life in the world,
which the Lord raises up to heaven if our heart is
humbled. For we call our body and soul the sides of
the ladder, and into these sides our divine vocation
has inserted the different steps of humility and
discipline we must climb.” (BENEDICT)

4. In the steps of humility
“All of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, because,
God opposes the proud but gives
grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

5. Stairway to heaven
Ladder of divine ascentJacob’s ladder

6. The 12 steps (of humility)
12. Outward manifestation of interior humility (head bowed,
eyes downcast)
11. Seriousness: speak in few & sensible words, gently, without
laughter
10. Stifling ready laughter and giggling
9. Speaking only when asked a question
8. Obey & be guided by the common rule of the community
7. Declare (& believe) oneself inferior to all others
6. Contentment with the lowest and most menial task
5. Confession of sinful thoughts and secret wrong-doings
4. Obedience & patience in difficult, contrary or even unjust
conditions
3. Submission in obedience to one’s superiors for love of God
2. Repression of self-will & seeking to fulfill one’s own desires
1. Keep oneself from sin every day, out of fear of God

7. Climbing up & falling down
the same ladder
“A prince mounts his throne by the same steps as he
comes down from it; the road leading us to a city
also brings us away from it; we open a door to
enter a house as we shut when we leave it; and
Jacob saw only one ladder with angels ascending
and descending…
The 12th degree of pride is for him who is slipping
down, what the 1st degree of humility is for him
who climbs upward.” (pp.49-50 St Austin Press ed.)

8. The 12 steps (of pride)
1. Inquisitiveness (wandering off, of sights & senses)
2. Instability of mind (fluctuating between joy & sadness)
3. Frivolity (as seen in over-readiness to laugh)
4. Indiscipline: the uncontrolled outpouring of every thought
one has
5. Singular boasting of one’s deeds
6. Arrogance: thinking of oneself as holier than all others
7. Presumption: following one’s own opinion in everything &
forcing it on others
8. Self-justification in wrong doing
9. False confession (contrary to patience amidst difficulties)
10.Rebellion against one’s brothers or superiors
11.Freedom to sin with the absence of shame
12.A habit of sinning

9. The goal of humility?
• Truth (pp.21-23)
• Love (p.24)
• God (p. 43)
Statue at Monastery of the
Annunciation, Bismarck, ND)

10. The paragon of humility?
“Now Moses was a very humble
man, more humble than anyone
else on the face of the earth.”
Numbers 12:3

11. The law of humility
• Remember how the LORD your God led you all the
way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble
and test you in order to know what was in your
heart, whether or not you would keep his
commands. He humbled you, causing you to
hunger and then feeding you with manna, which
neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach
you that people do not live on bread alone but on
every word that comes from the mouth of the
LORD. Deut. 8:2-3
• He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness,
something your ancestors had never known, to
humble and test you so that in the end it might go
well with you. Deut. 8:16

12. The wisdom of humility
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but
with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2
“The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,
and humility comes before honour.” Proverbs 15:33
“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but
humility goes before honour.” Proverbs 18:12
“The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD
are riches, honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4

13. The call of the prophet
“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the
earth who have carried out his
ordinances. Seek righteousness,
seek humility.” Zephaniah 2:3

14. The example of Christ
“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if
there is any consolation of love, if there is any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and
compassion, make my joy complete by being of
the same mind, maintaining the same love, united
in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but
with humility of mind regard one another as more
important than yourselves; do not merely look out
for your own personal interests, but also for the
interests of others.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also
in Christ Jesus…” Philippians 2:1-5

15. The message of James
“Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life
that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth
and the evil that is so prevalent and in humility
accept the word planted in you, which can save you
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:20-22
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let
them show it by their good life, by deeds done in
the humility that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13

16. The example of Paul
“You yourselves know, from the first day
that I set foot in Asia, how I was with
you the whole time, serving the Lord
with all humility and with tears and with
trials which came upon me through the
plots of the Jews.” Acts 20:18-19

17. The message of Paul
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord,
implore you to walk in a manner worthy of
the calling with which you have been
called, with all humility and gentleness,
with patience, showing tolerance for one
another in love, being diligent to preserve
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

18. The message of Paul
“Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or
free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience. Bear with each other and
forgive whatever grievances you may have
against one another. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you.” Colossians 3:11-13

19. Key questions to consider
• What factors in his life played a part in the
realization of this virtue?
• In what ways did Bernard seek to live this out?
• What contradictions do we see in a life of
humility in Bernard?
• What role does this virtue play in the
formation of a missional leader?
• Is humility a characteristic of God?

20. Bernard & Hildegard
Comparisons & contrasts
1090-1153 French Abbot
& spiritual theologian
1098-1179 German
Abbess & visionary