Day Six of Forty: The Virtue of Prudence
Each and every day requires decisions from every human person. In fact, each and every moment of every day requires decisions. For example, my entire day has consisted in making decisions that have delayed this blog post until almost bedtime. It is this daily series of decisions, however, by which priorities are revealed. If a another person were to watch me for a few days in a row, they would probably come to the conclusion that my priorities are coffee, food, creating new piles of books and paper that form a maze through my office and house, and so on.
The virtue of prudence assists us with governing life according to priorities. Prudence is "the charioteer of the virtues," as St. Thomas Aquinas called it. Cultivating prudence allows us to know and choose the good that ought to be achieved, and to avoid the evil actions and circumstances that prevent said achievement. (See paragraph 1806 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for a more thorough definition.) Quite simply, it is the virtue that assists a person in making the right decision at the right time, and doing so joyfully. By long stretches of such decisions, our priorities take shape and are revealed to the world.
It is necessary to remember, though, that prudence only begins in prayer, and it is strengthened by the sacraments. The good that humans seek, and the evil to be avoided, are only revealed as we listen to the voice of the Lord. After listening to our Master, we then become aware of the goodness of our actions and the impact that those actions will have on others around us. Those details become the factors in our decisions, guided by the light of the Holy Spirit. Thence, prudence becomes winsome and it spreads because others want its good effects in their own lives. Thus, prudent people might influence the world powerfully.
The virtue of prudence assists us with governing life according to priorities. Prudence is "the charioteer of the virtues," as St. Thomas Aquinas called it. Cultivating prudence allows us to know and choose the good that ought to be achieved, and to avoid the evil actions and circumstances that prevent said achievement. (See paragraph 1806 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for a more thorough definition.) Quite simply, it is the virtue that assists a person in making the right decision at the right time, and doing so joyfully. By long stretches of such decisions, our priorities take shape and are revealed to the world.
It is necessary to remember, though, that prudence only begins in prayer, and it is strengthened by the sacraments. The good that humans seek, and the evil to be avoided, are only revealed as we listen to the voice of the Lord. After listening to our Master, we then become aware of the goodness of our actions and the impact that those actions will have on others around us. Those details become the factors in our decisions, guided by the light of the Holy Spirit. Thence, prudence becomes winsome and it spreads because others want its good effects in their own lives. Thus, prudent people might influence the world powerfully.
