Virtues and Spiritual Growth
In Scripture, we find Jesus using various images to teach us that the path that leads to holiness consists in the full development of the spiritual life. For example, He speaks of the grain of wheat which reaches maturity and produces rich ears of corn. That growth as applied spiritually, a slow and oftentimes difficult process, is in fact the increase of virtue. If we are to sanctify each day, we have to practice many human and supernatural virtues. Over the past year, we in CFC USA have been discussing in our households the fundamental virtues: the supernatural virtues of faith, hope, and charity; the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, courage, and temperance; and other non-cardinal but nevertheless important virtues such as humility and generosity. In this season of Lent, it would be good to review and reflect on those virtues that we have been studying. But more importantly, we have to put them into practice daily until they become a habit.
We become what we habitually do. A virtue is a habit. Virtues demand the repetition of acts in order to grow, because each act disposes the soul to perform the next one more easily. Thus, if we repeatedly act with courage, we will eventually do so habitually. If we repeatedly act with humility, it will soon become our habitual way of behaving. The more one practices a virtue, the more it becomes a stable part of one’s character. Virtuous living stabilizes behavior. We can hope that a person who habitually acts well will continue to do so when he is confronted with difficulties. One is less susceptible to external pressures, less reactive, and more in control of one’s life. And so, he acts courageously, not just in extraordinary situations but routinely. This is why it is also very important that we remove the remains of the sins of our past life through penance. We must not allow them to incline us towards evil ever again.
Virtue is not a kind of talent, used as needed; it is ever-present in all circumstances. It becomes who you are. Because virtue is a habit, we must consider the lives of famous people in their totality before deciding which ones are worthy of emulation. Seek evidence of great deeds, to be sure, but more important, look for virtuous behavior in public and private life sustained over the course of a lifetime.
Today, as in the past, heroism is expected of the Christian. Thus it is a real challenge for us to grow in all the virtues. However, each of the many virtues is interwoven with all the others. The virtues form a single tapestry, a seamless robe where we see that growth in one virtue is a step forward in all the others.
There is unity and connectedness of all the virtues. In striving to develop one virtue, I develop all the others. Take self-control (or temperance): If I can control my passions, I will find it easier to maintain the objectivity to make right decisions (prudence) and to have reserves of energy for (courageously) staying the course when the going gets tough. In addition, if my heart is cleared of inordinate attachments, I am more likely to dedicate myself (magnanimously) to noble tasks and (humbly) serve others.
Consider humility: If I am humble, I will attain the clarity of moral vision to perceive the many gifts I have received from God, which is the precondition for responding magnanimously to his generosity. In living humility, I put my own needs and wants, likes and dislikes, opinions and prejudices on the back burner in order to serve others better. This enhances my practice of the virtue of prudence, and also the virtue of justice by making me attentive to my responsibilities to God, family and society.
Prudence embodies the unity of all the virtues in a special way: It shows me when courage, self-control, justice, humility, and magnanimity are called for, and how best to manifest them in the concrete circumstances of the moment. Guided by prudence, I will always clearly distinguish courage from cowardice, magnanimity from small-mindedness, true humility from false humility, self-control from intemperance, and justice from injustice.
Our Lord’s call to holiness is an urgent one. Our response through the daily practice of virtues must likewise be urgent. We cannot wait for the arrival of ideal circumstances in order to seek sanctity. Waiting for what we consider to be just the right situations and circumstances to arise in order to seek holiness would be the same as allowing our lives to pass us by in a meaningless and empty way. God doesn’t ask anything impossible. He expects all Christians to live the Christian virtues in their entirety even if they find themselves in environments that are hostile to Christianity. He will give the corresponding graces necessary for being faithful in such difficult situations.
“It is not easy for man, wounded by sin to maintain moral balance. Christ’s gift of salvation offers us the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of the virtues. Everyone should always ask for this grace of light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and follow his calls to love what is good and shun evil” (CCC 1811).
Our Lady, model of all virtues will teach us to achieve our wish if we turn to her for help and advice. She will make it easier for us to reach the target we have set for ourselves in the acquisition of a very specific virtue.
References: 1. Conversation with God. Vol.2 / 22, Francis Fernandez
2. Virtuous Leadership. Pp. 112-120, Alexandre Havard
3. Catechism of the Catholic Church
Questions for Discussion / Sharing or Personal Meditation:
1. How can I make use of (or how have I made use of) the actual happenings of each day to practice the virtues?
2. Usually, the growth in one virtue spurs the growth in the other virtues as well. What specific virtue will I focus on acquiring more during this season of Lent?
3. Do I really want to identify myself more and more with Christ through the daily practice of virtues?
May our Lord continue to bless Couples for Christ and its Family Ministries in 2012!
Jack Macalalad
CFC USA Pastoral Formation National Coordinator
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