How to live virtuously? It is one of my ongoing questions, inspiring me to examine my conscience every day.
Various kinds of spiritual and moral means are given to those who “seek what is above” (Colossians 3:1). Among them are four cardinal virtues, seven Christian virtues, four theological virtues, nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) and seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord).
Whenever I went for the mission to the school, the expression “Virtue of the Month” written on the bulletin board caught my attention.
Even in “Huddle,” the weekly online newsletter of our congregation, the expression “Value of the Month” invites me to ponder on spiritual values. This year, the American Province of the Daughters of Saint Paul chose five core values: devoted, intentional, excellent, adaptable and trustworthy. So, each member is encouraged to live these values and to cite sisters or co-workers who witness the chosen value every month.
All these enduring efforts remind me of the importance of practicing virtues in daily life.
Benjamin Franklin once wrote a book about virtues. The 13 virtues he always kept in his mind were temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility. To practice these values habitually, he tried to concentrate on one at a time.
Pauline Sr. Mary Lea Hill, known as a “Crabby Mystic,” shares her humorous wisdom in her books such as “Prayer and You: Wit and Wisdom from a Crabby Mystic,” “Blessed are the Stressed: Secrets to a Happy Heart from a Crabby Mystic,” “Complaints of the Saints: Stumbling upon Holiness with a Crabby Mystic” and “Growing in Virtue: One Vice a Time.”
In her recent book titled “Growing in Virtue: One Vice at a Time with a Crabby Mystic,” Sr. Lea invites us to look at the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance) as the basis of a good human life. Then, she goes through the seven Christian virtues (diligence, patience, moderation, kindness, chastity, generosity and humility) in comparison with the seven vices (capital or deadly sins: sloth, anger, gluttony, envy, lust, avarice and pride). Finally, she suggests the three theological virtues (faith, hope and charity) that have the most profound supernatural strength and beauty.
In the beginning, God created us in goodness. However, due to the fall of Adam and Eve, we lost the common ground of goodness, and we have to face various vices and sins that bring about negative energies and consume what is good and life-giving.
So, we are struggling to overcome our human limitations and to strive to become a better person. Surely, by putting the spiritual virtues into practice, we can be like Jesus, but it is a life-long work.
I do hope to amend my limitations as well. So, I reflect on myself and make up my mind to improve more and more. Being conscious of living virtuously, I can be more attentive, compassionate and considerate of others.
One of my limitations is judging others inwardly by looking at their appearances. To correct this judgmental habit, I talk to myself whenever I fall into temptation: “I am weak. You are weak. All of us are weak!”
The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (Figlie di San Paolo), living the Good News and proclaiming it with various means of social communication.
Growing in virtue
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14.05.2024
How to live virtuously? It is one of my ongoing questions, inspiring me to examine my conscience every day.
Various kinds of spiritual and moral means are given to those who “seek what is above” (Colossians 3:1). Among them are four cardinal virtues, seven Christian virtues, four theological virtues, nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) and seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord).
Whenever I went for the mission to the school, the expression “Virtue of the Month” written on the bulletin board caught my attention.
Even in “Huddle,” the weekly online newsletter of our congregation, the expression “Value of the Month” invites me to ponder on spiritual values. This year, the American Province of the........
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