The fourth degree of humility is that he hold fast to patience with a silent mind when in this obedience he meets with difficulties and contradictions and even any kind of injustice, enduring all without growing weary or running away. For the Scripture says, "The one who perseveres to the end, is the one who shall be saved" (Matt. 10:22); and again"Let your heart take courage, and wait for the Lord" (Ps. 26:14)!

And to show how those who are faithful ought to endure all things, however contrary, for the Lord, the Scripture says in the person of the suffering, "For Your sake we are put to death all the day long; we are considered as sheep marked for slaughter" (Ps. 43:22; Rom. 8:36).Then, secure in their hope of a divine recompense, they go on with joy to declare, "But in all these trials we conquer, through Him who has granted us His love" (Rom. 8:37). Again, in another place the Scripture says, "You have tested us, O God; You have tried us a silver is tried, by fire; You have brought us into a snare; You have laid afflictions on our back" (Matt. 5:39-41). And to show that we ought to be under a Superior, it goes on to say, "You have set men over our heads" (Ps. 65:12).

Moreover, by their patience those faithful ones fulfill the Lord's command in adversities and injuries:when struck on one cheek, they offer the other; when deprived of their tunic, they surrender also their cloak;when forced to go a mile, they go two; with the Apostle Paul they bear with false brethren (2 Cor. 11:26) and bless those who curse them (1 Cor. 4:12).

Benedict is teaching us how to be grounded, how to be authentically ourselves. This is the fourth characteristic. Previously he has encouraged: fear of God, denial of willfulness, and love of God.

Today he emphasizes persistence and patience. There will be difficulty and injustice. We will be threatened and we will suffer even unto death. But we are to respond with the wisdom and confidence of those who know what is real and what is not real.

There is present reality and ultimate reality. Between the two are many contradictions. Each have their reality. The present suffering can be awful. The present joy can be wonderful. They are not illusions. These are more than shadows.

But to the extent such suffering or such joy is separate from God it is not the whole reality. Benedict teaches us to be patient and persistent as we work with God to join the two realities. This is our test. Moreover, it is our abiding task.

Benedict quotes Paul. But another passage strikes me as especially apt: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (First Corinthians 13:4-7)