Following St. Benedict: Humility, Listening, and the Call Beyond Ourselves

On this feast of St. Benedict, let us pause and draw wisdom from his life and his Rule, whose spiritual vision remains strikingly relevant amid the chaos of modern life. In an age marked by constant noise and radical self-assertion, St. Benedict offers us two enduring guideposts on the road to holiness: the transforming path of humility and the sacred discipline of listening. Together, they call us to move beyond the closed walls of individualism into the luminous freedom of communion with God and neighbor.

Humility: Climbing the Ladder Toward God

For St. Benedict, humility is not merely a single virtue, but a spiritual ascent—an inner pilgrimage with twelve distinct degrees. It begins with the fear of the Lord, not as servile dread but as profound reverence before His majesty. This holy fear awakens us to our utter dependence on God. It leads us through stages that purify our hearts: sincere self-examination, patient endurance of hardship, and joyful acceptance of our condition in life.

Further along this ladder, we are called to obedience, quiet confession of faults, restraint of speech, and finally, a deeply rooted humility visible even in our bearing and manner. These degrees do not strip us of dignity; instead, they free us from illusions of self-sufficiency, allowing God’s grace to heal, elevate, and transform us. Humility, as Benedict teaches, is truth: the truth about who we are before the One who loves us infinitely.

Listening: A Response to the Buffered Self

Benedict opens his Rule with a single, powerful word: “Obsculta”—“Listen.” This is no passive hearing; it is an attentive openness of heart—a readiness to hear God’s voice in Scripture, prayer, the liturgy, and the quiet wisdom of daily life.

Philosopher Charles Taylor speaks of the “buffered self,” the modern condition where the human heart fortifies itself against transcendence, insulating itself from the divine and true encounter with others. Against this temptation, Benedict calls us to vulnerability—to “open our eyes to the divine light” and listen deeply. Such listening requires silence, surrender, and trust: silencing our inner monologue of pride and anxiety so that God may speak, guide, and console.

Beyond Individualism: The Call to Stable Community

St. Benedict also offers us a challenge that feels especially urgent today: a critique of radical individualism. Modern life often teaches us to prize autonomy above all else, to live as though we belong only to ourselves. Benedict, however, reminds us that true spiritual growth happens within a stable, committed community, where we are accountable to one another, support one another, and together seek the face of God.

In the shared life of faith, we learn that freedom is not about doing whatever we want, but about loving and serving as Christ taught us. It is in community that our sharp edges are softened, our pride is humbled, and our hearts are opened to grace.

Living Benedict’s Wisdom Today

In our daily lives, may we learn to climb the ladder of humility, one step at a time, trusting that God meets us in our littleness. May we practice deep listening, softening our “buffered selves” so that the voice of the Holy Spirit may resound within. And may we resist the pull of isolating individualism, embracing instead the richness and sanctifying challenge of life within the Body of Christ.

In these practices, we do not merely preserve an ancient tradition; we become living witnesses to a different way of being—one marked by truth, communion, and grace. Thus, we help bring Christ’s presence into a world longing for authentic hope.