MY BELOVED IS MINE AND I AM HIS: SELF-KNOWLEDGE IN THE ...

self, God, and neighbor. Since it is in the light of this tripartite schema that Bernard
unfolds his account of pride’s self-deception, it will be necessary to consider his account
of the three steps of Truth before turning to his discussion of the twelve steps of pride.
The Three Steps of Truth
At the outset of his Steps, Bernard speaks first of all not of the steps of humility
themselves, but of the fruit or reward to which these ascending steps lead, reasoning that
he and his monks will be more eager for the climb if they know what awaits them atop
Benedict’s ladder. 151 The fruit or reward promised to those who ascend Benedict’s steps
of humility is the knowledge of the truth or, more precisely, the knowledge of Christ who
himself is the Truth. Christ himself reveals this fruit of humility when he says of himself,
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jn 14:16). Christ’s Way is the way of humility
for as he further says of himself, “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart”
(Mt 11:29). If the monk imitates Christ’s example of humility by ascending the steps
arranged by Benedict, he will be conformed to Christ and thereby come to know Christ as
the Truth. And, in coming to know Christ as the Truth, he will come to share in Christ’s
own divine and eternal Life.
Humility, then, is the way to Truth, and the knowledge of Truth is the fruit of
humility. Yet the Truth, Bernard explains, is discerned or recognized by three successive
degrees or steps:
151 As Pennington observes, Bernard’s rhetorical arrangement bespeaks his skill as a teacher:
“Before constructing his steps of humility he arouses his reader’s interest by showing him the heights to
which they can lead. After all, who is interested in a ladder except the man who wants to climb up to
something.” See Basil Pennington, “Introduction,” The Steps of Humility and Pride, 8.
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