Holy Wit

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."

"...instantly quitting their own work and giving up their own will, with hands disengaged, and leaving unfinished what they were doing, follow up, with the ready step of obedience, the work of command with deeds; and thus, as if in the same moment, both matters – the master’s command and the disciple’s finished work – are, in the swiftness of the fear of God, speedily finished together, whereunto the desire of advancing to eternal life urgeth them."

Finally, we conclude the Holy Father's list of "good works":

Here, St. Benedict elaborates on his list of "good deeds":

Here, St. Benedict continues his list from yesterday:

1. In the first place to love the Lord God with the whole heart, the whole soul, the whole strength. 2. Then, one’s neighbor as one’s self.

"Let all follow the Rule as their guide in everything, and let no one rashly depart from it. Let no one in the monastery follow the bent of his own heart..."