Humility

The author of the Cloud of Unknowing defines humility as true self knowledge. But goes on to make a distinction between perfect and imperfect humility. To to see clearly our wounds, faults, and imperfections is a key step toward humility, but it’s imperfect humility. The author states: ” perfect humility is meeting the unfathomable love of God, who is the ground of our being”. Self-knowledge is not complete until it becomes grounded in God. Perfect humility is the realization that I am hidden in Christ, that it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. I think this great mystic and author of the cloud is saying that Perfect humility does not separate oneself from God no matter how deficient one feels. It sees Christ’s wounds and self wounds as one and he same. Perfect Humility raises the dignity of the soul to its proper place.