Becoming Humble

Abstract Monastic directives to humility have been dismissed by most contemporary theorists as remnants of a lamentable past. But, if radical Christian humility as envisioned by the early monastic tradition is a legitimate view of humility, there should be something to learn from their many directives. This chapter interprets monastic wisdom about the pursuit of humility, showing how ascetic practices are consistent with the claim that humility is a gift of grace. It argues that the monastics were right to think that genuine Christian humility is unattainable apart from experiences of humiliation. Ascetic regimes can promote humility by training practitioners to go on loving in the midst of humiliations that sabotage their quests for personal importance. Such practices “position” devotees to be recipients of supernatural love, which enables persons to go on without falling back on proper pride as a source of moral energy.