One Virtue at a Time

Dom Scupoli recommends working on gaining one virtue at a time. He says to identify the opposing vice, and ask God for help in gaining the virtue that will vanquish the vice. The effort is to be done with patience, vigilance and on-going effort. Once the virtue is acquired as habit, it must be maintained for life.

The earthly journey can afford rests and stops to gaze about; the spiritual journey must never cease in focus, effort, faith and prayer.

The nothing discussed a vice and the virtue that will overcome the vice. This discussion took place with the spiritual da while we ate cheese omelets and hash brown potatoes at a hole-in-the-wall type restaurant near the convent where he is chaplain. The vice is criticism, and the virtue is charity. The nothing has been very critical since childhood.

The da mentioned that we have to be critical to know what is right and wrong; the nothing agreed but pointed out that the vice of criticism is in detracting then, and of being distracted also. Then, the criticism is put into a thought, the thought into a word or attitude toward others, and easily spoken. Then others might be encouraged to criticize, as well. The negativity ripples out.

We discussed St. Silouan's method for placing ourselves down, for humbling ourselves. There are always points of others' goodnesses that uplift them and remind the self of its lowliness--if it comes to noticing at all. One must train the eyes and mind to look about with love and forgiveness. There is no room for criticism of others within the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

So the nothing practiced this during Mass at the convent. A guest, a man, left his cell phone on, but only at the vibrate setting. It vibrated every 30 seconds. He took it out once, but he only looked to see who was calling and did not turn it off. The nothing realized God had sent this encounter for the nothing to practice love and forgiveness--and to focus all the more on what the da was saying and doing at the altar. A woman behind the man thought it was the nothing's cell phone. But the nothing had no cell phone. The nothing was tempted to make a motion toward the man; but it is better to simply take the blame silently. Are we not to bear the guilt of other's errors? There were only two of us who had to listen to the buzzing. The nothing considered how often the nothing may not have been sensitive to others in varying ways. The nothing considered attachments it has to objects, as well.

So the nothing brought up to the da during lunch, about a couple areas of possession which are troubling. Books is one: these old, classic, outstanding, scarce in some instances, Catholic books. Holy, holy, holy books filled with the spiritual journeys and guidances of saintly souls who have climbed the holy mountain and found union with God! These authors and subjects are friends. Yes, there are worse collections; but the nothing is going to pray for moderation and put the money more to almsgiving (although often books are gifted, too.) Part of the nothing's "problem" is that it somehow desires to consume Catholicism, to be assumed into Catholicism--and holy people's writings and lives begin to represent their life in Christ, and the books then represent the tangible of their souls! The nothing cannot possess God, of course; God, however, can possess the nothing. And the books are but a signal of the nothing's great desire, much as a child clings to a beloved teddy bear.

The da says it is an obsession, or can be, and a possession. This is true. Part of the issue with the used books includes the nothing's still adapting to the solitude, and now and then, a trip to the used book store's religious section is an outing, for looking at titles is a quiet, silent activity; usually the nothing is the only one in the back room housing the religious books. There is a peacefulness, and the nothing gets quite excited and jubilant over a "find"--such as finding a small volume of Scupoli last time, or the time before a lovely volume by "a Carthusian" on the interior life, or Sam's handing me a pristine copy of Chesterton's Aquinas.

The habit--the clothing habit--is a more dreadful concern. The nothing needs to know what is necessary and what is not. Even though a good deal or clearance item, the nothing may not need it. And, again, although a rare trip to the store, discipline is required. The motive needs to be established: if it is because the nothing truly could use a change of scenery, or a bit of contact, then that needs to be discerned, and dealt with. Then go for that alone, but not to acquire a tangible. If the nothing feels bothered inside, then the nothing is not in God's will. If money is saved up and the nothing makes purchases for the unwed mothers and their infants, that is worthwhile. The need for outings and contacts has subsided in the past several months since The Great Peace was bestowed, anyway. But it is interesting to not that the nothing likes the challenge of a good find, a good deal, even when these are often gifted to others.

So, this nothing Catholic hermit has these faults (and others), and has challenges and progressions in this vocation. Dom Scupoli (and the da!) advise to be patient in the process of practicing the virtue, knowing that some things are learned quickly and others over time. Much depends upon the soul's readiness and desire for spiritual growth and striving for perfection. Much involves the strength of the will, the discipline, and the discernment of God's will.