In our modern world, it can be extremely challenging to live
a virtuous life. “The concept of virtue is often considered outdated and
old-fashioned, but for Catholics, becoming virtuous is essential for eternal
salvation.” What, then, can we do? Thankfully, we have saints we can look to as
role models in virtue as we journey through the difficulties of life.
Put simply, “virtue is the pursuit of good and the avoidance
of evil.” Traditionally, there are seven principal sins with seven virtues that
oppose them: greed – charity, lust- chastity, sloth – diligence, pride-humilty,
envy-kindness, anger-patience, and gluttony-patience. In Seven Saints for
Seven Virtues, Jean Heimann offers the example of seven well-known saints as
well as lesser-known examples of people living holy lives in order to help
readers grow in these essential virtues.
The saints profiled include Blessed Mother Teresa of
Calcutta (charity), St. Agnes (chastity), Pope St. John Paul II (diligence),
St. Joseph (humility), St. Catherine of Siena (kindness), St. Monica
(patience), and St. Augustine (temperance). Each chapter includes a brief
biography of one of these saints, explaining how he or she practiced the selected
virtue. Heimann then offers the profile of someone not canonized who also
exemplifies that virtue. She also
provides suggestions on how to put the selected virtue into practice in our
daily lives.
What is to be gained by our increasing in virtue? Everything.
“Putting the virtues into practice helps us avoid sin. The heavenly virtues
help us to overcome the cardinal sins in our lives, to which we tend to cling
like superglue.”
Seven Saints for Seven Virtues is designed to show that
all of us are capable of living virtuous lives, provided we are willing to work
at it and follow the saints’ holy example. While this book would be helpful for
anyone seeking to grow in holiness, it would be especially useful for teens and
young adults as they are forming their adult character and choosing how they
will live. It is a practical, encouraging book that has the power to change
lives.
1 comment:
Excellent point about what is gained by practicing virtue!
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