THE VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE

THE VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE IS NOT VERY POPULAR TODAY. IT HAS A BAD NAME & IS NOT CONSIDERED VERY ATTRACTIVE. IF SOMEONE'S GIVEN NAME IS PRUDENCE THEY ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE IT. EVEN IN HIS 'BOOK OF VIRTUES' WILLIAM BENNETT LEFT OUT PRUDENCE. HOWEVER, MOST PEOPLE WANT AN ORGANIZED LIFE, THEY WANT SUCCESS. THE NATURAL VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE IS A HUMAN VIRTUE THAT HELPS US TO ORGANIZE OUR BEHAVIOR. EVEN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM HAS PRUDENCE. THEY HAVE CERTAIN RULES OF BEHAVIOR AND TERRITORIAL RIGHTS TO KEEP ORDER IN THEIR LIVES.

THE NATURAL VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE IS A GOOD VIRTUE THAT BRINGS SUCCESS IN THIS WORLD. WE ALL NEED IT. BUT FOLLOWING IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR SALVATION. MOST OF US HAVE WORLDLY PRUDENCE. WE WANT TO HAVE ORDER & GOALS TO FOLLOW & FOR EVERYTHING TO GO WELL IN OUR LIVES. BUT IF WE SAY WE WANT THE KINGDOM OF GOD BUT ALSO WANT TO FIT INTO THIS WORLD, TOO, WE HAVE ONE FOOT IN EACH CAMP. WE DO NOT WANT TO ANNOY ANYBODY SO WE STAY CLOSE TO THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD. THAT'S WHAT GETS US INTO TROUBLE. THIS MAKES FOR MEDIOCRITY. WE HAVE THINGS TWISTED AROUND.

SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE NATURAL OR SUPERNATURAL VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE. NATURAL VIRTUES MUST BE INFUSED BY SUPERNATURAL GRACE TO EFFECT OUR SALVATION, TO BRING US TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLY TO FOLLOW IN THE WAY OF GOD. PSALM I SAYS 'BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO WALKS ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF THE LORD. BLESSED IS THE MAN! THE MAN WHO FOLLOWS THE WAY OF GOD AND DOES NOT ASSOCIATE WITH SINNERS AND SCOFFERS, WILL BE BLESSED BY GOD.'

I'D LIKE TO READ A FEW VERSES THAT GIVE GOOD EXAMPLES

OF SUPERNATURAL PRUDENCE FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERB 13S:

10:19 WHEN WORDS ARE MANY, TRANSGRESSION IS NOT

LACKING. . BUT HE WHO RESTRAINS HIS LIPS IS PRUDENT.

15-21 FOLLY IS JOY TO THE SENSELESS MAN BUT THE MAN OF

UNDERSTANDING GOES THE STRAIGHT WAY.

24 THE PATH OF LIFE LEADS THE PRUDENT MAN UPWARD,

THAT HE MAY AVOID THE NETHER WORLD BELOW.

16:3 ENTRUST YOUR WORKS TO THE LORD, AND YOUR PLANS

WILL SUCCEED.

YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF THIS VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION: "DO YOU HAVE YOUR LIFE ARRANGED FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD OR FOR THIS WORLD." THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ALL CHRISTIANS. MOST ARE MORE OF THIS WORLD. KIERKGAARD, THE NOTED THEOLOGIAN, TELLS THIS LITTLE VIGNETTE TO MAKE THIS POINT: TWO MEN IN JERUSALEM WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION. ONE SAID: "IT'S TOO BAD WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. I'M SO SURPRISED. HE WAS SUCH A GOOD PERSON AND A GREAT PREACHER. I THOUGHT HE WOULD GO PLACES." THE OTHER ONE SAID: "IT'S TRUE, FOR AN UNEDUCATED MAN HE HAD A LOT OF ABILITY. IF HE HAD WATCHED WHAT HE SAID AND KEPT HIS MOUTH SHUT MORE OFTEN, HE COULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD RABBI, A DISTINGUISHED CAREER. BUT LOOK WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE HE WAS SO IMPRUDENT!" WHO WERE THEY TALKING ABOUT? JESUS CHRIST, OF COURSE. THE WISDOM OF GOD IS IMPRUDENCE TO MEN.

MANY CHRISTIANS ARE BETRAYING THE GOSPEL BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT REVERENCE FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THEIR SUPREME IMPRUDENCE IS THAT THEY DO NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH. IN AMERICA WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RELIGIOUSLY NEUTRAL. BUT WE END UP BEING RELIGIOUSLY INDIFFERENT. AMERICANS ARE IMPRUDENT

BECAUSE THEY DO NOT APPROACH-THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITH REVERENCE. WE HAVE NOT LEARNED FROM HISTORY. BACK IN THE 30s AND 40s VERY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE CHOSE TO DO NOTHING IN NAZI GERMANY. IT SEEMED THIS NEW LEADER, ADOLPH HITLER, WOULD BE IN POWER A SHORT TIME SO THEY IGNORED WHAT HE WAS DOING. HOWEVER, THE VATICAN OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE JEWS AND ONLY 15% OF THE JEWISH POPULATION IN ITALY WAS KILLED.

THE WRITINGS OF JOHN HENRY NEWMAN HAD A WONDERFUL GRASP OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. HE WAS A CLERGYMAN OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CAREER HE CAUSED QUITE A STIR AT OXFORD WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HE WAS LEAVING THE ANGLICAN CHURCH TO BECOME A CATHOLIC. HE FACED BITTER OPPOSITION AND GAVE UP EVERYTHING. HE BECAME A PRIEST, AND STARTED A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY. THEY MINISTERED TO POOR IMMIGRANTS IN A SMALL CHURCH. NOW THIS MAN HAS REACHED THE STAGE OF CANONIZATION CALLED "VENERABLE", WHICH IS ONE STEP SHORT OF SAINTHOOD. HE WAS PRUDENT IN THE WORLD AND IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AT THE SAME TIME.

BECAUSE OF ALL THE SIN AND CORRUPTNESS PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO TODAY, THEY BECOME INDIFFERENT AND COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT EVERYBODY'S RIGHT AND NOBODY'S WRONG. DO YOUR OWN THING, MAKE UP YOUR OWN RULES AS YOU GO ALONG. THIS IS SO WRONG. BECAUSE THEY COMMIT THE SUPREME IMPRUDENCE OF BELIEVING THAT THEY CAN COME TO KNOW THE THINGS OF GOD THROUGH THEIR OWN INTELLIGENCE AND WIT, THEY GO WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD, AND, AT THE SAME TIME, RISK THEIR OWN SALVATION.

WHEN IT COMES TO TRUTH, SO MANY THINK THEY CAN FORM THEIR OWN VIEWS OF WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG. 70% OF CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH REGULARLY. THEY ARE IMPRUDENT ENOUGH TO THINK THEY CAN FIND THE TRUTH

WITHOUT GOD. THEY SAY: "I DON'T AGREE WITH THE POPE" OR "I DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW EVERYTHING THE CHURCH TEACHES." THEY HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM THE SACRAMENTS FOR A LONG TIME BUT STILL CALL THEMSELVES CATHOLIC AND CONSIDER THEMSELVES WORTHY OF SALVATION.

WHEN THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS DESTROYED, THEIR ART, MUSIC AND LITERATURE DID NOT EXTOL VIRTUES, FAR FROM IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOU KNOW A CULTURE IS IN TROUBLE. WHAT IS PREVALENT IN AMERICAN ART, MUSIC AND LITERATURE? DECADENCE, HEDONISM, ADULTERY, FORNICATION, SATANISM, VIOLENCE, EVERY EVIL YOU CAN IMAGINE, WHICH CAN ALL BE SUMMED UP IN ONE WORD: "IMMORALITY." AS A CULTURE, WE ARE IN TROUBLE. WE ARE A NATION ON THE VERGE OF COMPLETE SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY.

LET'S LOOK SOME MORE AT THE VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE. THE NATURAL GOODNESS OF A HUMAN BEING DOES NOT MAKE A PERSON A SUBJECT FOR ETERNAL LIFE, BECAUSE NO ONE CAN EFFECT THEIR OWN SALVATION. NATURAL GOOD QUALITIES NEED TO BE PICKED UP, CHANGED OVER, ALTERED, AND INFUSED BY THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WHEN THEY ARE CHANGED OVER, THEIR GOALS ARE CHANGED. THE NATURAL VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE IS TO LEAD A GOOD QUIET LIFE AND HAVE A NICE, PLEASANT, PEACEFUL AND REASONABLY PROSPEROUS EXISTENCE, AND THEN A REASONABLY DIGNIFIED DEMISE FROM THIS WORLD.

THE GOAL OF SUPERNATURAL OR GRACE-FILLED VIRTUE IS NOT THAT AT ALL. AFTER THIS WORLD, THE GOAL OF THE SUPERNATURAL VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE IS SALVATION. YOU CAN BE IMMENSELY IMPRUDENT IN SOME PEOPLE'S EYES ABOUT THINGS OF THIS WORLD, BUT BE OPENING YOUR WHOLE FUTURE TO SALVATION AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD. ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LETS US KNOW THAT THE CHRISTIAN OR SUPERNATURAL VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE IS DIFFERENCE FROM THE NATURAL QUALITY OF THIS VIRTUE, IS ST. PAUL. IN I CORINTHIANS 2:25-29

"FOR THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD IS WISER THAN MEN, AND THE WEAKNESS OF GOD IS STRONGER THAN MEN. CONSIDER YOUR CALL, BROTHERS AND SISTERS; NOT MANY OF YOU ARE WISE ACCORDING TO WORLDLY STANDARDS. NOT MANY ARE POWERFUL, NOT MANY OF NOBLE BIRTH. BUT GOD CHOSE WHAT WAS FOOLISH IN THE WORLD TO SHAME THE WISE. GOD CHOSE WHAT IS WEAK IN THE WORLD EVEN THE THINGS THAT WERE NOT TO BRING TO NOTHING THE THINGS THAT ARE, SO THAT NO HUMAN BEING MAY BOAST IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. (FROM THE SRV-CATHOLIC EDITION, IGNATIUS PRESS.)

THE DAY IS COMING, NO, IT IS ALREADY HERE, WHEN WE MUST TAKE A STAND. WE HAVE TO DEFEND THOSE THAT MANY CONSIDER EXPENDABLE. IF EUTHANASIA BECOMES LEGAL, IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE IT BECOMES REQUIRED. INSURANCE COMPANIES WHICH REFUSE TO PAY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL REFUSE AID TO HEALTH. OUR SOCIETY CONSIDERS IT ACCEPTABLE TO DO AWAY WITH THE UNBORN, THE ELDERLY, THE HANDICAPPED, THE RETARDED. INSURANCE COMPANIES DESCRIBE THEM AS LIVING BUT UNWORTHY OF LIFE. MANY CONSIDER IT PRUDENT TO GO ALONG WITH THE "RIGHT-TO-DIE" MENTALITY, INSTEAD OF STANDING UP FOR LIFE. WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO KILL? NO ONE HAS THAT RIGHT EXCEPT IN SELF-DEFENSE OR IN DEFENSE OF AN INNOCENT PERSON. HUMAN BEINGS ARE BEING KILLED AND WE MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IN TRYING TO FIND A PERSON WHO WITNESSED THE VIRTUE OF SUPERNATURAL PRUDENCE IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ZERO IN ON ONE IN PARTICULAR, SO I HAVE CHOSEN SEVERAL.

AT FIRST, I THOUGHT OF MOTHER TERESA. SHE WAS WELL ESTABLISHED IN A RELIGIOUS ORDER FOR MANY YEARS, SERVING GOD BY DOING GOOD FOR HER FELLOW MAN. BUT THE LORD KEPT URGING HER TO THINK ALONG DIFFERENT LINES. SHE FELT CALLED TO MINISTER TO THOSE AT THE LOWEST LEVEL OF SOCIETY, THOSE DYING ON THE STREETS OF CALCUTTA. SHE RAN UP AGAINST MUCH OPPOSITION FROM THOSE IN AUTHORITY. THEY URGED HER TO FORGET ABOUT HER WILD IDEAS AND CONTINUE WHAT SHE WAS DOING. BUT, BEING A WOMAN OF PRAYER, A CONTEMPLATIVE FULLY IN TOUCH WITH THE TRIUNE GOD, HER CREATOR, HER BROTHER JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, SHE WAS AWARE OF THE WILL OF GOD FOR HER AND WAS EMPOWERED WITH THE SUPERNATURAL GIFT OF PRUDENCE. HER CONSTANT PERSISTENCE CONVINCED OTHERS THAT SHE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO FOLLOW HER PLAN. SHE DIDN'T STOP THERE. SHE HAD MANY FOLLOWERS AND THEIR WORK SPREAD ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEY EXTENDED THEIR WORK TO INCLUDE NURSING AND LOVINGLY CARING FOR THE LEPERS OF TODAY, THOSE DYING WITH AIDS.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. AT A TIME IN OUR HISTORY WHEN CIVIL UNREST WAS WIDESPREAD BECAUSE OF SEGREGATION AND INJUSTICE TOWARD OUR BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS, HE STEPPED OUT WITH COURAGE AND FAITH TO RAISE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR WHITE POPULATION. HIS WORDS CAUSED PEOPLE TO SEE THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS. MANY PEOPLE, BLACKS AND WHITES WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE CHANGES LONG OVERDUE, LOST THEIR LIVES FOR THIS NOBLE CAUSE, INCLUDING MARTIN LUTHER KING HIMSELF. BUT HIS WORDS STILL RING IN OUR EARS AS WE STRIVE TO BRING HARMONY AND UNITY TO ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN. WE ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF HIS COURAGE IN FOLLOWING THROUGH WHEN GIVEN THE GIFT OF SUPERNATURAL PRUDENCE.

PRINCESS DIANA IS ANOTHER LADY I ADMIRE FOR HER SINCERE COMPASSION FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. WE MAY NOT HAVE APPROVED OF HER LIFESTYLE BUT WE CAN'T HELP BUT ADMIRE HER COMMITMENT TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE WHEREVER POSSIBLE. SHE COULD HAVE JUST RESTED ON HER LAURELS, LOOKED BEAUTIFUL IN HER EXPENSIVE AND BEAUTIFUL CLOTHES, AND PRETENDED SHE DIDN'T SEE THE EVILS IN THE WORLD. SHE HATED BEING PHOTOGRAPHED DOING THESE GOOD DEEDS WHICH TELLS ME HOW REAL HER MOTIVES WERE.

IN THE EYES OF MANY, SHE SEEMED FOOLISH AND IMPRUDENT, BUT TO ME SHE WAS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE GIFTED WITH THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF PRUDENCE.

MY MOTHER WAS GIVEN A TREMENDOUS BURDEN AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 32. MY FATHER WAS 36. HE WAS SICK FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND SUDDENLY DIED OF HEART FAILURE. THEIR FIVE CHILDREN WERE 11, 109 89 4 AND 10 DAYS. I WAS THE ELDEST. OUR PARISH DID NOT HAVE A SCHOOL SO I ATTENDED SCHOOL IN THE NEIGHBORING PARISH, ABOUT TWO MILES AWAY. ONE OF THE FIRST DECISIONS SHE MADE WAS TO MOVE TO AN APARTMENT CLOSE TO ST. ROSE OF LIMA CHURCH AND SCHOOL.

THIS PROVED TO BE A GREATER ADVANTAGE THAN ANTICIPATED. NO ONLY DID WE ALL ATTEND THE SCHOOL AND RECEIVE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION FROM THE SACRED HEART BROTHERS AND ST. JOSEPH SISTERS, BUT THE FOUR PRIESTS WERE A FATHER-FIGURE TO US ALL FOR MANY YEARS.

ALL HER LIFE SHE WAS A PRAYERFUL WOMAN AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDED HER TO MAKE MANY WISE DECISIONS CONCERNING HER FIVE CHILDREN, THROUGH THE SPECIAL GIFT OF SUPERNATURAL PRUDENCE.