My life experience constantly teaches me that love is what gives life its very meaning.
In a conversation I had with a person who is suffering from a life threatening disease, I was reminded of three inexhaustible springs which render love, the greatest existing gift, fruitful, practical, and life giving. These three virtues are found in Saint Faustina’s Diary. The Virgin Mary, whose life has been a constant living witness of what she herself said to the angel: “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), taught the Polish mystic how to please God the way she (Mary) did. In the entry 1415, Mary encourages Saint Faustina and us: “Practise the three virtues that are dearest to [her] – and most pleasing to God. The first is humility, humility, and once again humility; the second virtue, purity; the third virtue, love of God" (Diary, 1415).
I am really touched by Mary’s insistence concerning the virtue of humility. She explicitly says: “Humility, humility, and once again humility”. Humility is the golden to key to God’s heart. Without humility every kind of goodness or apparently virtuous life is simply trash to be discarded. It is purely pharisaical. In Jesus’ words, “it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men” (Matt 5:13). Pride is plainly diabolical. In addition, whoever is proud, irrespective of whom that person may be, is under the direct influence of Satan. The deadly and despairing spirit of such people is really horrible! Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) spoke plainly about pride: “It was pride that changed angels into devils”. In his Confessions he shows the destructive influence of pride in his past life: “I was puffed up with pride, and incorrectly considered myself a mature adult.” (Confessions, III, 1). How horrible when one becomes puffed up with pride!
Humility is that holiest disposition that helps us acknowledge our complete dependence on God. This virtue is the most pleasing to our Lord! Saint John the Baptist said: “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). While the centurion, who was aware of his unworthiness to receive Jesus, the Holy One, in his house, said: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Mt 8:8). Only the humble person trusts in God, forgives and asks for forgiveness, and gives his/her life to others by serving them.
The second virtue Our Lady mentions to Saint Faustina is purity. In entry 2520, the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that purity (or chastity) is both a virtue and a gift. Purity assists us to “love with upright and undivided heart”. Purity is present even in our intention since the latter “seek[s] the true end of man”; in other words to accomplish God’s will in everything. Finally, there is “purity of vision, external and internal; by discipline of feelings and imagination; by refusing all complicity in impure thoughts that incline us to turn aside from the path of God's commandments: ‘Appearance arouses yearning in fools.’” The way we speak determines if we are pure or not. Thus, Saint Clement of Alexandria warns us: “Filthy talk makes us feel comfortable with filthy action. But the one who knows how to control the tongue is prepared to resist the attacks of lust.”
The third and final virtue is love of God. Such a love helps us love God in the way we think, speak and act. The blessing that emanates from such a virtue is detailed by Saint Faustina in her Diary: “... If a soul loves God sincerely and is intimately united with Him, then, even though such a soul may be living in the midst of difficult external circumstances, nothing can disturb its interior life. In the midst of corruption, it can remain pure and unsullied because the great love of God gives it strength for battle, and God also protects it in a special way” (Diary, 1094).
May these three pearls guide us throughout this year and beyond!
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap