tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21938110.post6629562207352483610..comments2023-06-11T04:57:35.215-04:00Comments on Theme and Variations: Musing on Sacrifice and SufferingDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232343536274836721noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21938110.post-62366172338592474022008-05-28T00:15:00.000-04:002008-05-28T00:15:00.000-04:00Thanks for the comments Ali and Scott.I enjoyed th...Thanks for the comments Ali and Scott.<BR/><BR/>I enjoyed the paragraph on temperance Ali, as well as the description of fortitude, which I believe is what is required when confronted with difficult circumstances.<BR/><BR/>Scott, I liked what you said--it's a little death, but therein lies new life.<BR/><BR/>I'm going to pursue this line of thinking further.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11232343536274836721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21938110.post-26134097516325189212008-05-25T16:26:00.000-04:002008-05-25T16:26:00.000-04:00I would agree. Obedience is often a little death, ...I would agree. Obedience is often a little death, but it is also like the death of a seed.<BR/><BR/>It feels a heavier topic of discussion than can be sorted through in a series of comments. That being said, I'll throw some in anyway.<BR/><BR/>I just read in <I>Mere Christianity</I> (the current On-the-John read) about the schoolboy whose view of God was of a Being who snooped around into other people's business, and whenever he found someone having fun he would let him have it. I think the Christ-life often involves this kind of suffering. And consider the descriptions: "I beat my body," spiritual discipline, mortify the flesh, etc. Ascesis/asceticism comes from the Greek word meaning "exercise."<BR/><BR/>I remember, recently, one of the most emotionally painful "exercises" for me was in going to meet someone who I simply didn't want to forgive, didn't want to love - and knowing that God wanted me to forgive and to love. I felt like my heart was being crushed because I'd been so terribly bitter for so long.<BR/><BR/>Which reminds me of the book <I>Hinds' Feet on High Places</I> by Hannah Hurnard - when the Shepherd pushes the thorn of his love into Much Afraid's heart she experiences terrible pain. I think obedience and relationship with God, sharing in his life, can often be like that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12564684437473178371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21938110.post-13350140250110054882008-05-24T09:43:00.000-04:002008-05-24T09:43:00.000-04:00~a beautiful reflection~four cardinal virtues: pru...~a beautiful reflection~<BR/><BR/>four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.<BR/><BR/>Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart." Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites." In the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety." We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in the world" <BR/><BR/>To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (this is fortitude). It obeys only God (this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).<BR/><BR/>~catechism of the catholic church #1809Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com