The Life of Virtue

We all are aware that Thanksgiving, the great American holiday, happens tomorrow.  It seems, though, that the cultural awareness of the source of this celebration has been lost in recent years.  The first celebrants of this ritual gathered at table during shortly after the harvest season because of the gratitude in their hearts.  They were grateful for God's grace that allowed them to survive their first harsh winter in the New World; and for the assistance of their fellow man (native American Indians, specifically) in cultivating the crops and produce.  These were reasons for gratitude, indeed. Jennie Brownscombe, The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth (1914) Over the last three-plus centuries, the ritual has changed slightly.  There probably wasn't a grand exhibition of sport (like football) before, during, and immediately after the big meal.  It is very likely that folks didn't pack up for brief cross-country trips but, rather, they remained within ...

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 m...

The Gospel reading for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) is a portion of the Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 5:17-37 ), "the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest Preacher who ever preached," according to Peter Kreeft.  In this segment of the sermon, just a few sentences after listing the Beatitudes, the Lord provides His audience (the hearers on the mount and us in the modern age ) a new and fulfilled understanding of the Law.  Those who follow Christ must examine their attitudes and actions in a way that is different than the legalistic culture of His day and the world in which we live.  Quite simply, a person who claims to be a disciple of Jesus must be ready to cultivate virtues, which will help her to choose rightly in the face of anger, lust, or even cultural tradition. Virtues are the habitual dispositions of mind and heart that lead individuals to act according to God's gracious plan.  It is no coincidence, then, that there are certain vi...

This morning, my wife and I began a prayerful reading of Introduction to the Devout Life , together.  In the first sentence of the text, St. Francis de Sales defines devotion as "a virtue most pleasing to God's Majesty."  The saint undertook to write the treatise so that others could grow in this most important virtue, and it is for the same reason that my wife and I seek to read and pray through it. St. Francis introduced the virtue of devotion by noting that there is "only one true devotion," but that there are many "false and empty" counterfeits.  Yet, he continues, humans color devotion according to their own "passions and fancies."  In a scathing manner, he writes that "many persons clothe themselves with certain outward actions connected with holy devotion and the world believes that they are truly devout and spiritual whereas they are in fact nothing but copies and phantoms of devotion."  Ouch!  As I read that single para...

C.S. Lewis, a great bard of the English language, once quipped, "If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity."  On a similar theme, in a tweet shortly before he resigned as Supreme Pontiff, Pope Emeritus Benedict wrote, "The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort.  You were made for greatness."  In two pithy statements, these men captured one of Christianity's defining characteristics: it assaults a person's comfort zones.  Paradoxically, it is this assault on comfort that brings a person to the fullness of what God intends for him or her to be. A nice representation of the benefits of expanding one's comfort zone. If a person is comfortable while living Christianity, then she isn't living Christianity in a manner commensurate with the intentions of its Founder.  That's precisely because Christ always challenges us by pushing our boundaries.  He always attem...

I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to share a brilliant quote from St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who's been my mystic of choice lately. While writing about the importance of obedience in his most famous treatise, On the Canticle of Canticles , Bernard said: "Without the practice of virtue you could not attain to contemplation." A few pen-strokes later, he went on: "the taste of contemplation is due only to obedience to the commandments." There is a deep truth that St. Bernard elucidated with these simple phrases. In order to reach the highest heights of prayer (or deepest depths), people must first learn and practice virtue. Those virtues are cultivated by continually praying over and internalizing the commandments (both the old law and the new law, surely). Virtue comes very "easily" when we continually keep in mind that we must love God with all our heart, mind, and strength; when we remember to keep holy the Sabbath, honor our parents, ...

It might be obvious: there has been very literary output from this site lately. The reasons for that include family vacation, duties to a full-time ministry, and lots of time spent in prayer. As much fulfillment as writing brings to me, it falls much lower on the list of priorities than it ever has. During the time away from the keyboard, God has revealed many things to this author. It will be a joy to share them as quickly and as often as possible. Right now, there are youth retreats and adult seminars to plan, and there are professional development articles to write. Everything that is "in production" is going to be founded on and focused around virtue. Virtues (or the lack thereof) are everywhere; they are the foundation of our moral life. Without understanding virtue, and knowing how to cultivate it in our lives, our culture will surely continue down a dangerous path. It will be a pleasure to see all the prayer, development, and work come to fruition, even if it ta...

Yesterday was a great day! I spent the day teaching "The Virtues" to freshmen at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School. Throughout the day, I was filled with God's grace and the zeal of the Holy Spirit because I know that such a topic is vitally important. The virtues are the foundation of our moral life in Christ. Without these holy habits, we are unable to bear fruit in our own lives. Further, exhibiting virtue is the best way to evangelize and win people for Christ, for Truth! Because of the true statements above, teenagers, as well as those who teach youth, need to hear this message. It is essential to their growth in holiness, and to our ability to reclaim control of a deteriorating secular culture. Developing, or redeveloping, a sense of virtue will place individuals and our culture back on the path to true moral freedom. If any of you are interested in hearing more about this message, or bringing it to a specific group of people, please don't hesitate to...

Last night, the citizens of the state of Maine repealed a state law that would have allowed homosexual couples to "get married" within that state. News reports have popped up across the media throughout the morning, and they can be found on any news website (Associated Press report available here ; other reports here and here ). Common pieces of information will be available from nearly every source, but it is also important to recognize that correcting misconceptions will be necessary. This article is specifically meant to examine this scenario from a new viewpoint: the Catholic perspective. The first misnomer that must be corrected is the idea that marriage is an "institution." Marriage, according to Catholic teaching, is a covenant, which is much different than an institution. An institution is a thing that is erected for some particular end. A university is an institution erected for the "end" of educating students and granting academic diplomas...

[Although Pope John Paul II has not yet been beatified or canonized, a title of blessedness is coming soon.  We all know that he's gonna be a saint one day, right?] INQUIRER: What's the point of this whole "love thy neighbor" thing?  I have a hard enough time loving my family and friends.  Can't I just love God and have that be enough? POPE JOHN PAUL II: We may be tempted to show respect only for the great ones of the earth and to reserve our love for our own family and friends.  But Christ teaches us that, for good or ill, what we do to the least of our brothers and sisters we do to Him.

INQUIRER: I'm confused and curious about human freedom (some call it free will).  I've been told that freedom means the ability to choose to do whatever I want to do as long as I feel that it's "right."  Can you clear up this questions for me? ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO: The freedom of the will is then true freedom when it does not serve vice and sins. [Personal addition from a layman with an Augustinian spirituality: In it's essence, free will is the ability to choose any action, right or wrong.  However, with a purified conscience, human freedom directs us toward doing that which is good, which brings more freedom.  Choosing vice and sin hinders our freedom and will eventually wrap us in slavery to those same vices.]

As I promised in a recent post, here is a rough outline of the talk that I gave for my parish's catechist formation day. Keep in mind the analogy of the sailboat Sailboat needs two things to work: raised sails and wind Without one or the other, boat doesn't go anywhere Who?  You are the sailboat You, the person (universal call to holiness; definition of virtuous life by St. Gregory of Nyssa) You, the catechist (virtuous person desires to share such a gift; Evangelii Nuntiandi 41; virtuous catechist sows seeds of virtue in his/her learners) Specific examples of how this looks in a catechetical setting (e.g., PRE class or adult faith formation seminar) How?  You must work to raise the sails Create an awareness in prayer (gain deeper understanding of virtue; read and pray passages of Scripture, Catechism; Consciousness Examen; etc.) Directed/focused prayer Sacraments Action based on God's revelation Repeat the cycle (create habits that are strong ...

[This article was written on Wednesday, May 20.  In the interim, I have shopped it for publication, but to no avail.  Here it is in its original form.] The events that took place in South Bend, Indiana on Sunday afternoon have created a state of confusion, disappointment, and even anger (to greater or lesser degrees) all across America.  In the immediate aftermath of President Obama’s visit to the University of Notre Dame, several media outlets allowed their pundits to comment.  During the two days interim, many other commentators have offered their opinions as well.  This article is a bid to offer the perspective of an intellectual Catholic who is loyal to the Church’s magisterium; to focus on a few things not yet analyzed and, hopefully, offer new and fresh insights. The thoughts contained herein were created while viewing the event on Sunday and reading a variety of perspectives during the ensuing two days.  Most importantly, the opinions e...

After reading two articles today, I became more convinced than ever that we must pray for civil governments in our world, and the officials who staff those governments.  Those articles can be found by clicking the links below. "Anti-Christian Britain" on Catholic Exchange "Parental Rights: The New Wedge Issue" on Politico.com Please read the articles and then offer prayers for the conversion of government officials and for the transformation of governments.  Finally, consider taking some civil action (i.e., a grassroots petition effort, contact your Congressional representatives, etc.). God bless!

This afternoon, I read and meditated on the first chapter of the Letter of St. Paul to Titus.  Verses 15 and 16 of that chapter pierced my heart deeply.  I let out a silent cry to God: "Let my deeds be acceptable in your sight, O Lord!"  I shudder at the idea that I profess to know God but deny him by my deeds.  I pray, rather, that my beliefs are proven through my actions.  In that prayer, I ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Augustine, St. Paul, Pope John Paul the Great, and all the angels and saints. God bless!

A young man walked toward his classroom at the local university this morning.  He wore a t-shirt emblazoned with a message that was both shocking and revelatory: "Make Love Not Babies."  (Not kidding.  Such a piece of apparel really exists , in multiple locations, colors, and fonts.)  That single phrase proved much about our present culture; more than the designer probably ever intended. The essence of the problem is that modern American culture has had generations to perfect the vice of lust, and so has had to move on to bigger, deadlier "adventures."  Modern American culture has added pride and selfishness to its previous vice.  We now live in a culture built on the sand foundation of personal convenience.  Nowhere is this truth more visible than in many people's attitudes toward bringing new life into this world. To think that "love" and babies are mutually exclusive does more than destroy our human race and objec...

President Obama's issued an executive order yesterday.  This particular order lifted "restrictions on federally financed human embryonic stem cell research." The outcome of the lessened restrictions will certainly be that Congress considers the use of taxpayers' dollars to fund the pseudo-science. With a simple stroke of his pen, our president has placed himself, Congress, and possibly our country, inside the reach of grave evil.  There is not another way to describe it: his executive order will almost certainly lead to the exploitation and destruction of human life, something that can never be considered good . During prayerful reflection over the past two days, the apparent evil in this situation has become crystal clear.  Let us consider the course of events from this point forward. Congress considers the use of taxpayers' (many of whom abhor the idea of embryonic stem cell research) dollars to fund the "beneficial" research. Con...

This morning, Pope Benedict XVI met with Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.  All of the major news outlets have picked up on it, and so have the minor ones.  The report from MSNBC can be found here ; Fox News's counterpart here .  Reports can also be found on Catholic websites and blogs, like this one . In addition to the third-party reports, a person who has interest in this particular situation can access the statements released by each of the participating parties, the Pontiff and the Speaker.  The statement released by the Vatican's press office is available here .  Speaker Pelosi's statement about the meeting is available on her House of Representatives website: http://speaker.house.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=1015 . After having accessed all of the reports and official statements, there are a few inconsistencies in information.  At best, one or both offices suffers from short-term memory loss; at w...

In a change of pace from my recent posts... (Borrowed from Tennessee Right to Life website ) I feel the need to share the grave remorse that I feel for our nation and our culture as I watch the National March for Life, which is currently happening in Washington, D.C.  As I watch live coverage, there are times during which I am on the verge of weeping. Quite simply, I am grieved that people in our country could ever support and justify the killing of innocent lives.  Moreover, I am astonished that our government(s), which have been founded upon the primary responsibility of protecting the rights of every person , could sanction such killing. There is no excuse, no justification for the atrocities that have been perpetrated over the past 36 years.  And, because some ideologues still try to make excuses and justifications, my heart breaks.  Yes, my heart is broken: for those children who will never experience life; for those parents who may never know the joy of ...

This week contains much history.  It contains both commemorations of important events from the past and current events that will, one day, be mentioned as some of the most momentous events of this era.  We celebrate the life and work of a man who fought until his death for the equal treatment of people of every race; we welcome the first days of the first black president in our nation's history; and we recall the single most heinous judicial ruling of America's Supreme Court.  Moreover, this is a week during which America's faithful, orthodox Catholic population can offer prayers and blessings for the months and years ahead, as well as penance for a culture's destruction of human life. Earlier today, every American received a new chief executive officer when Barack Obama was sworn in as the forty-fourth President of the United States.  Without a doubt, many barriers were shattered today that lasted for many previous generations.  Without a doubt...