And it doesn’t hurt to get a fresh take on them either!
It’s one of those universal truths that self-mastery requires virtue. And lots of it. Just because
we can list the virtues doesn’t mean that we are masters of them.
Growth in virtue requires the formation of our conscience and the latter, is something we
must learn from Our Lord.
Forming our conscience is the means by which we become more aware of good and evil
and, as a result, the presence of vice in our own life.
Vices are, simply out, the evil habits that lead us to sin. Just like virtuous muscle, flexing
vice-based muscle, only strengthens it. That is, small vice-driven decisions and behaviours
have a cumulative effect. The more scope we give them, the bigger they get, the bigger the
sin, the graver the consequences.
Obviously, as the mother of a large brood, the example that comes to mind here is and
animated movie aimed at children. But it’s short and simple and illustrates the point well.
The Veggie Tales movie ‘Larry Boy and the Fib from Outer Space’ provides an entertaining
take on this idea. Though the 3D animation and visual effects are more than dated, the plot is
solid. The general premise of the story is that one small ‘white lie’ or fib, leads to more and
more lies, conflict, sin, and an alien -called Fib – who ends up as big as a skyscraper and as
destructive as King Kong.
Maybe telling fibs is not one of the vices that you struggle with. Let’s face it, there are plenty
of others. And in an increasingly secular world where vices are encouraged if they lead to
‘happiness’ and ‘satisfaction’ it can be difficult to see our way through to a more virtue-based
existence.
Difficult it may be, but no one ever said the narrow path would be easy. Literally, it’s an
incline path that will change, mould and shape us. And there are always detours, rest stops
or freeway ramps that can veer us off course and cruising on that other highway – you know
the one.
And here we arrive at the sticking point, where many of us do not want to tread: vulnerability.
Yes, that uncomfortable place where we ask ourselves the questions: ‘What vices live in my
heart?’ and ‘What virtues live in my heart?’ and seriously consider what they are.
The way we answer these questions leads us to consider one more: ‘Am I stepping into who
I’m meant to be?’
Because, in order to be master of ourselves we need to have the vulnerability to stand
before Our Lord in all our virtue and vice and be accountable for where we’ve failed to
embrace our identity as a child of God.
Let’s all resolve to reacquaint ourselves with the virtues. Small virtuous decisions today will
lead to more virtue, more grace, and more traction on the narrow path.
Start today. Start small. But start. Or re-start. It’s never too late to adjust your bearings, and
rediscover the way of virtue.
Written by Emily Shaw
VM blog writer and graphic designer.