The second degree of humility is that a person love not his own will nor take pleasure in satisfying his desires, but model his actions on the saying of the Lord,"I have come not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38). It is written also,"Self-will has its punishment, but constraint wins a crown."

I perceive God created us with free will. Our freedom is part of God's intention.

I can imagine several different purposes. But I am not certain of God's purpose for giving us free will.

I perceive that Jesus discovered - and accepted - God's specific purpose for the application of his will.

In this I entirely agree with Benedict, Jesus is our model in how our will may find fulfillment in God's purpose.

But Benedict and I may disagree on the value of the will itself, which I understand to be a gift of God.

Above is a depiction of Saint Benedict from the Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Louis in Creve Coeur, Missouri