André Louf’s probing essay on the nature of humility revisions this fundamental Christian virtue away from the misunderstandings of both the scholastic tradition and its modern counterparts to locate humility in the ancient sources of the monastic tradition. His incisive study prefaces a collection of primary texts which range from the early desert fathers to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. The translator has added further information about the author and his other writings as well as a bibliography for further reading.

André Louf served as abbot Cistercian Abbey of Mont des Cats in northern France until his retirement in 1997 and now lives as a solitary. Previous books in English include Teach Us To Pray, Tuning into Grace, Grace Can Do More: Spiritual Accompaniment, and Mercy in Weakness: Meditations on the Word.

Lawrence S. Cunningham is Professor of Theology at Notre Dame and book notes columnist for Commonweal.