True Humility Destroys Pride

So the Christian athlete who competes by the rules in the spiritual contest and wants to be crowned by the Lord should try by every means to destroy this most savage beast, which destroys all the virtues. He should know that as long as it remains in his breast, not only will he never be free from every kind of evil, but even if he seems to have some good qualities, he will lose them through its malignant influence. For no structure of virtue, so to speak, can possibly be raised in our soul unless the foundations of true humility are first laid in our heart. Once securely laid, they can bear the weight of perfection and love on them. In this way, as we have said, we may first show true humility to our brothers from the very bottom of our heart, never consenting to grieve them or injure them in anything. And this we cannot possibly manage unless true self-denial, which consists in stripping and depriving ourselves of all our possessions, is planted in us by the love of Christ. [a]

Next, the yoke of obedience and submission must be taken up in simplicity of heart, without any pretense, so that apart from the commands of the abbot no will of our own is alive in us. But this can only be secured in one who considers himself not only dead to this world but also unwise and a fool, and who carries out whatever his seniors command him without any argument, believing it to be divine and commanded from heaven.