Learning the virtues

By Kim Ae-ran Today, my friend arranged to go on a pilgrimage to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. All the presentations on the life of Abraham Lincoln were so lively, touching and inspiring that his life invites me to reflect on a life of integrity. Through sincere self-study, Lincoln became a man of integral virtues pursuing the ultimate freedom of every human being up to the point of the Emancipation Declaration.

How encouraging to reflect on the nine fruits of the Spirit as the integral virtues of life. St. Paul talks about the nine virtues in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.



Each of these positive values are closely related to the virtues that some of us try to pursue in our daily lives. Some argue that “consumption is a virtue.” In today’s world, where trends and advertisements encourage us to buy far more than we need, it can seem that way.

However, it’s evident that consumption is not a virtue; rather, it reflects a compulsive and habitual desire for more. Consumption and consumerism are concepts of modern development and materialism. Together with egoism (selfishness) and hedonism (pleasure), consumption expresses individualism.

Various books are displayed in our bookshop, but the book that draws my attention most is that of virtues. Among them, I enjoy reading something about humility. Only when we are humble and gentle, we can say, “With malice toward none, with charity for all” as Abraham Lincoln said.

One of the talks that I enjoyed and appreciated much was the special lecture on virtues at Hans Urs Cardinal von Balthasar Library and Classroom in the Catholic Studies Center at Saint Louis University. Gregory R. Beabout, a professor of philosophy, led the lectures with the help of presentations by his students every Wednesday evening in September.

As Romano Guardini Chair, Professor Gregory has taught and conducted research in ethics, Kierkegaard, personalism and Catholic social thought for over 30 years. Throughout his academic career, he has tried to apply personalism and the tradition of the virtues to business and the professions. Monsignor Romano Guardini (1885-1968), an Italian-born German priest and a Catholic educator and thinker, still inspires us a lot with his books leading us to ponder on the key virtues that make us holy and spiritual.

Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have often quoted his writings in their various documents and letters. Especially, “Learning the virtues that lead you to God,” first printed in 1963, inspires us to put the virtues into practice and to make them part of our daily routine. Virtues are “something living and beautiful” that weave every single moment of our life to be more meaningful, colorful and challenging as well.

The virtues that he mentioned in this book as a direct path to the cardinal and theological virtues are: truthfulness, acceptance, patience, justice, reverence, loyalty, disinterestedness, asceticism, courage, kindness, understanding, courtesy, gratitude, unselfishness, recollection, silence and justice before God. “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.

Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9) Kim Ae-ran is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (Figlie di San Paolo), living the Good News and proclaiming it with various means of social communication.

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