The beauty of virtue! So often we discuss the spiritual life as if the main goal or the end of it is simply the avoidance of sin. While avoiding sin certainly is essential, we are called to something far greater. What we received through the Paschal mystery and through our baptism is adoption as sons and daughters of God; the capacity by grace to share in the life of the Trinity. The fathers speak of deification.
As we read through Saint John’s description of purity and chastity, these truths begin to manifest themselves. We engage in this constant struggle with our own appetites and with the temptations from the demons not simply to avoid sin, but to give and receive love in the way God intended; for that love to be rightly ordered and also, by grace, to become something that is supernatural.
We are to love one another as Christ has loved us. It is often very difficult for us to understand this because more often than not we have never tasted the fruit of this virtue. We are surrounded by its opposite; and often have been immersed in that which is impure for most of our lives. Yet, even as we struggle for this virtue, we must not fall into a purely moralistic or legalistic view of life. It is through entering into the love of Christ and receiving that love through the holy Eucharist, that we are given the capacity to love in a selfless fashion. Furthermore, it is also through this Grace that we become capable of receiving such love without any impediment. May God open our eyes to the beauty of the life that He is made possible for us and the beauty of virtue!
---
Text of chat during the group:
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Sixty-Three Part II
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis IX, Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Sixty-Three Part I
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis IX, Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Sixty-Two Part II
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis VIII Part III
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Sixty-One Part II, Letter Sixty-Two Part I
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis VIII Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Sixty-one Part I
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis VIII Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Sixty Part II
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis VII Part IV
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Sixty Part I
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis VII Part III
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Fifty-nine Part III
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis VII Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Fifty-nine Part II
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis VI Part III and Hypothesis VII Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Fifty-eight Part III and Letter Fifty-nine Part I
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis VI Part II
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Straight TV
The Tangent on Veritas Catholic Network
Life After Ministry
Deep Dive
Beyond the Broomstick - with Medium Matilda