St. Justin Martyr & the Life of Virtue

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This morning, I happened to remember that today is the feast day of St. Justin Martyr, who lived, taught, and died in the second century A.D.  I found my copy of his most notable and commonly-read treatise, First Apology.  As I read that text, I found myself longing to read and ponder more of his rich teaching and devotion.  I want to live up to the example of this courageous Christian of antiquity.


Several short passages stood out to me, but I found one that is now my favorite of his.  Of course, it deals with virtuous living.  He states:

"And we have been taught, and are convinced, and do believe, that He accepts those only who imitate the excellences which reside in Him, temperance, and justice, and philanthropy, and as many virtues as are peculiar to a God who is called by no proper name."

Indeed, God accepts us most fully when we are responding to His grace and cultivating virtue in our lives.  This is especially because they are His virtues.  Even those virtues praised by pagan philosophers before Christ have come from the Lord of All.  God rejoices when His people seek, practice, and perfect those virtues that come from Him.  The best news is that living those virtues also allows us to have the best life here on earth, making progress toward eternal life.

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