Salesian Literature

Salesian Views on

::   Virtues  ::   Vocation

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

​

Virtues

 

Selecting the Virtues

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:1. The queen of the bees never goes to the fields without being accompanied by her little subjects. Similarly charity never enters a heart without finding a lodging there for itself as well as for a retinue of other virtues which it exercises and sets to work as a captain does his soldiers.

 

Further Advice on selection of Virtues

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:2  St. Augustine says very well that beginners in devotion commit certain faults which are blameworthy according to the strict laws of perfection. 

 

The Little Virtues needed everywhere

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:2

 

Little virtues prepare for contemplation of God

Letter to Madame de Chantal. Each one must love the virtues that are suitable to him, each according to his vocation.  The virtues of a widow are humility, contempt of the world and of oneself, and simplicity.  Her exercises are love of her abjection, the service of the poor and ill; her place, the foot of the Cross; her rank, the last; her glory, to be scorned; her crown must be her misery: these are small virtues.

 

Virtues needed for living in the midst of things

Care without Anxiety concerning what one has to do: Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:10 The care and diligence we should have in our affairs are quite different from solicitude, anxiety and eagerness.  The Angels are concerned about our salvation and they obtain it with diligence but they do not have solicitude, anxiety or eagerness. 

 

Care without Anxiety concerning what one has: Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:14 Happy are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God.  Accursed then are the rich in spirit for theirs is the misery of hell.  He is rich in spirit who has riches in his spirit or his spirit in riches.  He is poor in spirit who has neither riches in his spirit nor his spirit in riches. 

 

How to practise real poverty while remaining rich

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:15 Have much greater care than the worldly people to make your wealth useful and profitable.  Tell me, are not the gardeners of the great princes more careful and diligent in cultivating and beautifying the gardens they have in their charge than if they were their own? 

 

How to practise richness of spirit in real poverty

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:16 If you are really poor, dearest Philothea, be such also in spirit.  Make a virtue of necessity and make use of this precious stone of poverty for what it is worth.  Its brilliance is not discovered in this world, nevertheless it is exceedingly beautiful and rich. 

 

Virtues needed for living in the midst of people

Being alone and being with others: Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:24 To seek the company of others and to shun it are two blame-worthy extremes in the devotion of people living in the society of which I am going to speak to you.  To keep away from such company shows disdain and contempt of our neighbour and to search for it manifest idleness and aimlessness. 

 

Advice on Conversation: Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:27 Take great care that you do not let slip any unbecoming words from your lips.  Even though you may not say them with an evil intention, those who hear them may take them in a different way.  An unbecoming word which falls into a feeble heart spreads and extends like a drop of oil on a piece of cloth.

 

Rash judgements

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:28 The judgements of the children of men are rash because they are not judges of one another.  In judging they take over the function of our Lord.

 

Further advice on conversation

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:30 In your speech be gentle, free, sincere, straightforward, simple and truthful.  Be on your guard against duplicity, cunning and pretence.  Although it is not good to say always all kinds of truths, yet is never allowed to go against truth.

 

We must have a just and reasonable mind

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:36 We are men only through reason.  Yet it is a rare thing to find men truly reasonable.  All the more so, since self-love generally confuses reason, it leads us unnoticeably into a thousand kinds of small but dangerous injustices and unfair dealings.

 

Friendship

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:17 Love holds the first rank among the emotions of the soul.  It is the king of all the movements of the heart.  Love changes all the rest to itself and makes us such as what is loved.  Be on your guard then, dear Philothea, that there is no evil whatever in your love because if there is, soon you will become completely evil.

 

Genuine friendships

Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:19 Philothea, love everyone with a great love of charity but have friendship with those capable of communicating virtuous things to you.  The more exquisite the virtue you put in your exchange the more perfect will your friendship be. 

 

Spiritual Friendship

Letter to Madame de Chantal. What difference does it make if you know whether or not you can consider me your spiritual father, as long as you know how my soul is disposed toward yours, and I know how yours is toward mine? 

 

Letter to Madame de Chantal. All the little complications and hidden contradictions that come up unexpectedly to disturb my peace actually fill me with an even more serene peace and, it seems to me, are a sign that my soul will soon be settled in God. 

 

Letter to Madame de Villesavin. Don’t ever believe, my dearest daughter, that great distances can separate those whom God has united by the bonds of His love.  The children of this world are all separated one from another because their hearts are in different places; but the children of God whose hearts are where their treasure is (cf. Lk. 12:34) and who all have the same treasure – which is the same God – are consequently always bound and united together. 

 

Letter to a Wife and Mother, 12: If you want to acquire virtues, it’s better to practise them when there is most opposition.  Don’t be discouraged by the obstacles; treat them as a constant challenge to do your best.

​

​

Back to Top

​