Episode 60: Augustine Wetta, O.S.B. St. Benedict's 12-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem

About this episode

Fr. J. Augustine Wetta discusses his book on humility and self-esteem through the lens of St. Benedict's teachings.

In this episode of the Moral Imagination Podcast I speak with Fr. J. Augustine Wetta about his book Humility Rules: Saint Benedict's Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem. The world teaches us to assert ourselves, to follow our passions, to speak up, talk back, “get yours,” don’t let anyone stand in your way. But it doesn’t really work. As Tyler Durden proclaims in Fight Club: “We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact.” In contrast to the world’s and Fight Club’s response (which we won’t talk about), Fr. Augustine looks at the Rule of St. Benedict and his ladder of humility as a guide for real happiness and true self-esteem, which comes not from self-assertion, but from self-denial, selflessness, serving others, and not being a slave to one’s own will and desires. We discuss Fr. Augustine journey from a lifeguard, surfer, and rugby player to a Benedictine monk, and some of his stories teaching high school students, and throwing himself into a rosebush. In his Rule for monks, St. Benedict explains that any progress toward holiness, happiness, and…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Matheson Miller

Guest: Fr. J. Augustine Wetta

Topics covered

• self-esteem
• humility
• Benedictine philosophy
• self-denial
• personal growth

Keywords

• humility
• self-esteem
• Benedictine
• self-denial
• personal growth
• philosophy
• spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: St. Benedict

Books & works: Humility Rules: Saint Benedict's Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem, Fight Club

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