Goodness and Christian Courtesy
1. Christian perfection, when it is genuine and practical, should be
reflected externally in our appearance, in our conversation, and in our
behaviour. Discourtesy, sharpness of manner, offensive speech, and all
that is rude or displeasing, are signs that we are lacking or weak in
virtue.
On the other hand, if we have succeeded in conquering all our
evil inclinations and in regulating our interior faculties, so that
they are subject to right reason and to the divine law, then our virtue
will be reflected in our speech and in our actions. It was this
spiritual charm that made the Saints fascinating to those who knew them
or came in contact with them, making them wish to reform their own lives
and to strive towards perfection. St. Francis de Sales said that
courtesy is the frame of sanctity; as a picture without a frame is
incomplete, so also is virtue if it is not expressed externally by
affability and gentleness. In the Gospel, Jesus is not satisfied with
interior virtue alone but insists that it should appear outwardly in our
actions. “Even let your light shine before men,” He says, “in order
that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in
heaven.” (Mt. 5:16)
2. St. Francis de Sales was a model of
gentleness and Christian courtesy. He had every regard and respect of
his neighbour because he saw God in everyone and everyone in God.
He had the ability to listen to everybody with great patience and
kindness, without ever showing any sign of tiredness or boredom, even
when he was dealing with unpleasant people or when he was busy with far
more important matters. He maintained his equilibrium and self-control
even after many hours of work and of difficult consultations. He was
always prepared , moreover, to listen to the troubles of the poor.
Even when insulted and reviled, he displayed perfect serenity and calm.
It was a result of this that, with the help of God, he made innumerable
converts.
“Always be as gentle as you can,” he was accustomed
to advise, “and remember that you will catch more flies with a spoon of
honey than with a barrel of vinegar. If you must err, let it be on the
side of gentleness…” “Be humble,” he wrote again, “and you will be
gentle. Humility makes the heart kind towards the perfect and the
imperfect; towards the former through veneration, towards the latter
through compassion.” (Letter 51) How much we have to learn from the
serenity and courtesy of this Saint!
3. When Jesus wished to
propose Himself as our divine model, He said: “Learn from me, for I am
meek and humble of heart.” (Mt. 11:29) He was kind to all, but
especially to sinners. He was strict and severe only with hypocrites,
whom He described as a race of vipers and as whitened sepulchres, from
which we can see how much He detested duplicity. If the hypocrites had
only repented and resolved to mend their ways, however, Our Lord would
have received them lovingly and pardoned them. Let us learn, therefore,
to be simple, meek, and humble of heart and to display that courtesy of
manner which is the necessary adornment of true Christian virtue.
Showing posts with label goodness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goodness. Show all posts
Sunday, 28 September 2014
Saturday, 8 March 2014
Knowledge and Goodness - Cardinal Bacci
Knowledge and Goodness
1. Joseph DeMaistre's views on the relationship between knowledge and goodness may seem a little extreme, but they are nothing but the truth. "If the guardianship of education is not restored to the Church, and if knowledge is not everywhere subordinated to goodness, the evils which await us will be incalculable. Science will brutalise us. Because of it men will become more savage than the barbarians."
We do not wish to speak slightingly of knowledge. It is a gift from God, Who has given us our intellects to know the truth. But truth, like every created thing, comes from God and should lead us back to God. It is the same with knowledge. If we investigate the secrets of nature and do not make of them a ladder which helps us to climb towards our Creator, we turn the natural order upside down and inevitably fall backwards. We can gain by our labours a mastery over the hidden forces of nature. If we do not use them to benefit humanity, but to destroy those of our brothers whom we call our enemies, we are worse than Cain. Science which does not serve goodness is worse than barbarism. The latter has very few instruments of destruction at its disposal. When science rebels against sound idealism, however, and makes itself absolute, it can destroy all that we have inherited of beauty and goodness throughout the centuries.
2. The supremacy of goodness over knowledge has to be admitted in practice as well as in theory. It is useless and even harmful for us to be courageous if we are not also good. Very often knowledge is like a weapon in the hands of a child. If the child is naughty or careless he can do a great deal of damage with the weapon. Before everything else we must be good. We must have that Christian goodness which embraces all the virtues and culminates in the love of God and of our neighbour. Once we have acquired this goodness, science will benefit by it. It will become a powerful means of enlightenment rather than of destruction. It will no longer be mere knowledge; it will be wisdom. It will teach us how to live and show us our proper destination. In short, it will become an instrument of virtue which will contribute enormously to the welfare of the human race.
3. Science is too easily glorified today. But knowledge for the sake of knowledge does not lead us to God and is very often stupidity or worse. It can be an instrument of evil and of physical and spiritual destruction. This is why St. Paul wrote: “Let no one rate himself more than he ought, but let him rate himself according to moderation, and according as God has apportioned to each one the measure of faith.” (Rom. 12:3) “Knowledge puffs up,” he said, “but charity edifies.” (1 Cor. 8:1)
"The humble knowledge of oneself," ‘The Imitation of Christ’ tells us, "is a surer way to God than deep researches after science. Knowledge is not to be blamed... but a good conscience and a virtuous life are always to be preferred. But because many take more pains to be learned than to lead good lives, therefore they often go astray." (Bk. 1, Ch. 3) So let us learn everything which our position in life requires of us, and as much besides as we are able. But above all let us learn to be good and holy. If we fail in this, the rest is useless and dangerous.
1. Joseph DeMaistre's views on the relationship between knowledge and goodness may seem a little extreme, but they are nothing but the truth. "If the guardianship of education is not restored to the Church, and if knowledge is not everywhere subordinated to goodness, the evils which await us will be incalculable. Science will brutalise us. Because of it men will become more savage than the barbarians."
We do not wish to speak slightingly of knowledge. It is a gift from God, Who has given us our intellects to know the truth. But truth, like every created thing, comes from God and should lead us back to God. It is the same with knowledge. If we investigate the secrets of nature and do not make of them a ladder which helps us to climb towards our Creator, we turn the natural order upside down and inevitably fall backwards. We can gain by our labours a mastery over the hidden forces of nature. If we do not use them to benefit humanity, but to destroy those of our brothers whom we call our enemies, we are worse than Cain. Science which does not serve goodness is worse than barbarism. The latter has very few instruments of destruction at its disposal. When science rebels against sound idealism, however, and makes itself absolute, it can destroy all that we have inherited of beauty and goodness throughout the centuries.
2. The supremacy of goodness over knowledge has to be admitted in practice as well as in theory. It is useless and even harmful for us to be courageous if we are not also good. Very often knowledge is like a weapon in the hands of a child. If the child is naughty or careless he can do a great deal of damage with the weapon. Before everything else we must be good. We must have that Christian goodness which embraces all the virtues and culminates in the love of God and of our neighbour. Once we have acquired this goodness, science will benefit by it. It will become a powerful means of enlightenment rather than of destruction. It will no longer be mere knowledge; it will be wisdom. It will teach us how to live and show us our proper destination. In short, it will become an instrument of virtue which will contribute enormously to the welfare of the human race.
3. Science is too easily glorified today. But knowledge for the sake of knowledge does not lead us to God and is very often stupidity or worse. It can be an instrument of evil and of physical and spiritual destruction. This is why St. Paul wrote: “Let no one rate himself more than he ought, but let him rate himself according to moderation, and according as God has apportioned to each one the measure of faith.” (Rom. 12:3) “Knowledge puffs up,” he said, “but charity edifies.” (1 Cor. 8:1)
"The humble knowledge of oneself," ‘The Imitation of Christ’ tells us, "is a surer way to God than deep researches after science. Knowledge is not to be blamed... but a good conscience and a virtuous life are always to be preferred. But because many take more pains to be learned than to lead good lives, therefore they often go astray." (Bk. 1, Ch. 3) So let us learn everything which our position in life requires of us, and as much besides as we are able. But above all let us learn to be good and holy. If we fail in this, the rest is useless and dangerous.
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