5 Virtues Study Guide
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This document discusses five missionary virtues - simplicity, gentleness, humility, mortification, and zeal. For each virtue, it provides a brief definition or quote about the virtue from a source like Praying with Vincent de Paul. It then poses reflective questions to help the reader assess their own practice of that virtue. The document also provides lists of potential signs of growth and signs where further growth is needed in each virtue to aid self-reflection.
5 Virtues Study Guide
- 3. SIMPLICITY Jesus, the Lord, expects us to have the simplicity of a dove. From Praying with Vincent de Paul Thomas McKenna
- 4. SIMPLICITY • Do I always speak the truth? • Do I say things as they are or as I want them to be? • What causes me to conceal or hide something from another?
- 6. GENTLENESS There are no people more constant and firm in doing good than those who are gentle and gracious. From Praying with Vincent de Paul Thomas McKenna
- 7. GENTLENESS • Do you try to resolve conflicts with gentleness? • Do you know when to be gentle and when to be forceful? • Do you know how to temper your anger so to be gentle in a given situation?
- 9. HUMILITY God pours out his inexhaustible gifts on the humble, those who recognize that all good done by them comes from God. (Documents, vol.11, pp. 56-67)
- 10. HUMILITY • Do I recognize the truth of who I am? • Do I protect myself by intimidating others? • Do I cause others to be on the defensive? • Do I treat people as well as I think I should?
- 12. MORTIFICATION Service to God s people demands a price. Christians must put aside their own prejudices, comfortable circumstances, and favorite ideas in order to do the will of God. From Praying with Vincent de Paul Thomas McKenna
- 13. MORTIFICATION • How would you define mortification? • When was the last time you gave up something good to do a better thing? • How do you experience mortification in your daily life?
- 15. ZEAL Zeal is made up of a genuine desire to please God and to be useful to others: zeal for extending God s kingdom, zeal for achieving others salvation. From Praying with Vincent de Paul Thomas McKenna
- 16. ZEAL • How does your life reflect your passion and love for life in Christ? • Zeal adjusts, finding new ways and developing professionally, especially through on-going formation. (The Way of St. Vincent, Robert Maloney) What have you done for your own on-going formation?
- 17. SIMPLICITY Some signs of growth • Congruence between word and deed • Is transparent - especially in regard to motivation • Is honest (truthful) • Is single-hearted • Can reveal his inner self to others in an appropriate way • Has a clear self identity • Lives without the clutter of unnecessary concerns and things • Is authentic Some signs for need growth • Incongruence between word and deed • Manipulates others • Has hidden agendas • Has a divided heart • Is preoccupied with frivolous concerns and things • Is perceived by others as a phony and a hypocrite • Is confused about his true purpose in life (confused self-identity) Emmet Nolan, cm
- 18. HUMILITY Some signs of growth • Recognizes God as the source of all life - especially his own • Depends on God and has confidence in God s generosity and love • Loves self and others • Is profoundly grateful for his life • Appreciates even the small things in life • Enjoys life • Accepts gratefully all that is given • Does humble, hidden work for the community and the poor without calling attention to himself • Ability to admit mistakes and sinfulness • Offers and receives forgiveness graciously and generously • Ability to graciously accept correction from others especially the poor - who are his Lords and Masters • Ability to learn and be evangelized by others, especially the poor Some signs for need growth • Depends on self • Self-identity is formed from his social status, interests and possessions • Expects privilege • Is ungrateful • Expects to be served • Ignores kind gestures from others • Is self-absorbed and narcissistic • Is seen by the poor as arrogant, aloof and demeaning • Is unwilling to do humble work • Expects to be praised for what he does • Does not admit mistakes • Does not offer forgiveness easily • Is a “know it all” • Is harmful to self and others Emmet Nolan, cm
- 19. GENTLENESS Some signs of growth • Appropriately expresses and controls anger • Is gentle and kind with others - even with those who are disagreeable • Is approachable and affable to others especially the most weak and vulnerable • Has good social skills - good manners • Is empathetic - can see and feel the world from the perspective of others, especially the poor • Avoids useless conflicts and arguments Some signs for need growth • Does not express anger appropriately (e.g. sarcasm, gossip, hurtful words, bad moods, jokes with an edge, etc.) • Creates a tense and conflictive atmosphere • Argumentative • Often loses patience with others especially the poor • Has poor social skills - bad manners • Is avoided out of fear by others - especially the poor • Is disrespectful, rude and obnoxious Emmet Nolan, cm
- 20. MORTIFICATION Some signs of growth • Is self-disciplined • Is able to delay gratification • Willingly sacrifices personal convenience, comfort, goals, needs and security to enter into the world of the poor • Understands the central role of the cross in following Christ the Evangelizer of the poor • Is capable of fulfilling duties and obligations when they are not necessarily to his liking (without complaining) Some signs for need growth • Is undisciplined in his appetites and desires • Does not fulfill his unpleasant but necessary obligations and duties • Complains often • Is unwilling to sacrifice personal convenience, comfort and security for the good of the mission • Puts personal well being before the needs of the community and the poor Emmet Nolan, cm
- 21. ZEAL Some signs of growth • Is enthusiastic and passionate about his life and work • Maintains a balanced but full schedule - works hard • Has pastoral initiative and creativity • Is hopeful and positive about the possibilities of the Kingdom of God • It is obvious to others that he loves what he is doing • Sees ongoing formation as a means of learning new and more effective ways of serving the poor Some signs for need growth • Is apathetic and lazy • Has lost hope in the possibilities of Evangelization and the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God • Is “nesting” - does the minimum • Is pessimistic • Does not take creative initiative • Is bored with the mission Emmet Nolan, cm
- 22. Artwork by Lynne Horoschak and Julie Ann Kring