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Rule
St Columbanus, tr. Metlake, 1914; abridged
Chapter 5
The danger of vanity is shown by the few words addressed by our Saviour to His disciples, whose joy that spirits were subject to them was mingled with thoughts of vanity: “I saw Satan like lightning falling from heaven”;1 and to the Jews who justified themselves before men He says: “That which is high to men, is an abomination to God”.2 From these words and the well-known instance of the Pharisee whose works, though good in themselves, were not acceptable in the sight of God because he vaingloriously boasted of them (whereas the sins of the Publican, humbly confessed, were forgiven), we may gather that vanity and self-exaltation are the ruin of every good work. Therefore let no boastful word ever proceed out of the mouth of the monk, lest even his greatest work be rendered useless thereby.
Notes
- Luke 10:18.
- Ibid., 16:15.