2023 The Art of Living

Kurt Carlson, OLIH Parishioner, writes:

What are your Superpowers?

Think back or imagine a time long ago, before the days of videos. How were kids kept entertained, especially on long car trips? When I was a kid the solution to keeping kids busy was comic books. I had a box of them and read and re-read them until the covers fell off.

That brings us to our fourth cardinal virtue - justice. What is “justice”? How does it relate to Superman’s mission and more important, why is it important for us? In our Art of Living book, justice is described as “Responsibility” and what we owe others: God, parents, neighbors, friends, the community and the poor. It’s outward looking and not about what’s due me.

Traditionally we see justice depicted as a statue of a blind folded person holding balance scales. Seems appropriate as we strive to balance all of our many responsibilities in life. In our modern world we can easily get focused on what makes us happy like movies, concerts, TV, vacations,, money, nice cars, fancy clothing, fine food, etc. etc. etc. As we strive to be ‘just’ our focus needs to be on the needs of others. Superman provides an example of justice for us. He selflessly uses his superpower talents to help others. He’s always saving his friends, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen from the clutches of evil doers, who wind up in jail. You never see him flying to a beach for a vacation or using his strength to win bets.

In the Justice League, you see Superman having the humility and wisdom to work with others to solve bigger challenges that he couldn’t take care of by himself. Now what about us? Who are the villains in our world?

Homelessness and hunger are two that are sadly prevalent in our world. Central Iowa has between 200 and 300 people unsheltered at this time of year. That’s people sleeping in cars or living in tents. And, one in eight people in Iowa experiences hunger. As I sit in my warm, comfortable suburban home with a full fridge and a full pantry, the feeling of injustice weighs heavy. Thoughts go to Luke:

A few years ago, a friend approached me with a story. He’d had a calling from God and felt the desire to feed the homeless people in Des Moines with his bicycle. He wondered if I join him. With our superpowers being simply a batch of burritos, a bag of oranges, a case of water, a little spare time on a Thursday night and bicycles we served a few people living on the streets. No big issues were solved, but a few people were better fed, and cared for. I quickly learned that the care was more important than the food to these people often overlooked in society. We continued to serve people each week.

There were indeed God moments, as if God was letting us know our efforts were blessed. Coworkers and friends learned about what we were doing and they joined us to help. As a result we could serve many more people. The homeless began to looked forward to Thursday nights as the night when the burrito slingers come. We organized as a non-profit - Urban Bicycle Food Ministry. Today, 300 to 400 people are served each Thursday night , where they are. God moments happen with human connections. Each week 700 burritos and 300 sandwiches are prepared. Lots of donations of clothing, batteries, water, necessities and blankets are accepted and sorted. Six teams deliver food on bicycles when the weather is warm and in cars when it’s cold.

Like the Justice League, lots of different skills and talents are needed. About 60 volunteers show up with the super powers of cooking, food prep, donation organization, volunteer coordination, team leading, food delivery and kitchen cleanup. There’s even a job for a pot washer which makes me think of Mother Theresa’s desire to do the lowest job of cleaning bathrooms. This is living proof of Paul’s words to the Corinthians:

Back to Justice.

• How do we embrace this virtue in our life?

• What villains or injustices bother you?

• We each have unique gifts of time, talents and treasures. What are your superpowers?

  Now, go do something about it.
  
  
  

Deacon Pat Davitt writes:

Living the Virtue of Justice by Deacon Pat Davitt

In my life, living the virtue of justice is sometimes a difficult and haunting thing. Here are some of the reasons and some ways I try to live it out.

Dr. Edward Sri, the author of this book, quoted the final judgement Jesus describes in Matthew 25, “When I was hungry, you gave me food. When I was naked, you clothed me, When I was sick, you came to visit me.”

I have a cupboard with lots of food, a freezer with an abundance, and a fridge all filled to last me for a long time. I am uncomfortable because there are many who lack proper food for the health of the human body. We sanitize that event by calling it “food insecurity.” The fact is that many of our brothers and sisters, who were created by God, are hungry all the time.

Is that justice? How do I share? And does our system for dealing with poverty need to change?

I look through my closet, and there are items I haven’t worn in over a year. I have an abundance of clothing, there are many of my fellow human beings, who were created by God, who do not have sufficient clothing. I do share some of my clothing but certainly could share a lot more. Is the answer me sharing more or does the system we live in say those folks should just take care of themselves. “Pick yourself up, get a job, and get off welfare,” some people say.

Is that justice? Is that treating others with dignity?

I have pretty much had health insurance all my life. My company employer provided it and after retirement Medicare takes care of my needs. While I am covered, there are many living in poverty who have no insurance. The Affordable Care Act helped many but there was, and still is, a lot of opposition against that legislation, even by church leaders in the United States.

Is it justice that some who are sick have the advantage of health care and some don’t?

I continue to lobby my political leaders to provide help to those in poverty. One of my grandsons is a dentist. On a regular basis, he is part of a group of dentists who provide services to the poor. I asked him what he does most often at those events. He pulls teeth! Many don’t have the advantages of regular dental care. Lack of dental health leads to other health problems too.

 There are many other areas of my life where I have an unjust advantage like educational opportunities, access to wealth, sanitary living conditions, access to reliable transportation, and a clean environment, to name a few. Many of those advantages have been given to me from my birth.

Is that justice?

How do I try and live with those struggles, adversities, and challenges? One thing my wife and I started some years ago was to try and teach my children and grandchildren to share. One way we do that is to take a portion of what we would give them at Christmas and give that to those in need. It has varied from having them share in a flock of chickens, some goats, pigs or other things that are provided by organizations like Food for the Poor or Heifer Project. There are many numbers of charities that are local or worldwide that are in dire need of our generosity. As Pope Francis said in an interview on January 25, 2023, “It is also a sin to lack charity with one another.”

I certainly don’t deserve any gold stars, but last year I did contribute to 21 different charities. I’ll admit I did not give from my substance but from my excess. I suppose I could have bought a fancy new car to impress my friends or taken an extended vacation to some exotic world location. And, to be honest, I do have a comfortable automobile and my wife and I have traveled to all the continents, except for Antarctica.

One other simple thing I have been trying to do recently is to greet people I meet, particularly people from different backgrounds, people who pick up the trash or other “background” jobs, people who keep our public places clean, people who are oftentimes ignored. I feel if I treat others with respect and justice, perhaps a bit of justice will spill over for all of God’s people. Because we are all created by God. And, God loves me and all people, no matter how justly they are treated.

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Virtue & the Art of Living

Today is the final video in the series with Dr Sri. Today he will introduce us to the Virtue of Justice.  

As you listen, pay attention to what rises up inside of you – did you feel resistance when he explained that justice is not about me, but what I owe others, it’s not about my rights, but rather it’s about my relationships and my responsibility? What is your reaction to Religion – relationship with God – being first and foremost when it comes to justice?  

• When have you lived the virtue of justice well?

• Where do you see your weakness in this area of your life?  

Click on the video below to be taken to the FORMED.org website to watch the video. NOTE: If you’ve not been on FORMED before – simply sign up “as a parishioner”, when prompted, identify Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, Ankeny as your parish and then use your email to register. OLIH subscribes to FORMED as our gift to you! 

Reading plan:  

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Deacon Greg Kolbinger writes:

As my faith journey really became something I actively was working on and really paying attention too, the idea of temperance seemed to be the most difficult to grasp. I wanted it all and I wanted it my way with no need to sacrifice pleasure or my immediate needs to become closer to God and those I loved and cared for.

Over time, with a great spiritual director and prayer, it slowly became apparent to me that my thinking needed to change. As I realized that the times when God was sending me what I thought were interruptions and detours to how I wanted to proceed, were actually grace filled moments of encounter with the Christ present in my brothers and sisters, the light finally dawned.

When you’re thinking or beliefs are challenged, or you find yourself falling flat time and time again, ask and ponder in quiet time for yourself:

• What am I really chasing after here?

• Do I want it all to revolve around my needs and desires or could I possibly try a new way of moving forward—where the others in my life are seen as deserving of my time and attention just as my needs are?

• Discipline and sacrifice for others takes on a whole new meaning when really understanding and praying for the grace to treat others as I wish to be treated.

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Fr. Nick writes:

While our faith tells us that God is to take the first place in our lives, we know by experience that many things compete with God for that top spot.  “Mammon” rears its ugly head only too often in the form of many idols: wealth, honor, pleasure, reputation, career, comfort, and convenience lure even committed Christians to worship at their altars.

 In short, when we serve mammon, created goods dominate over the one Uncreated Good.

 How do we turn the tables on mammon, so that God can be returned to His rightful place as the One whom we love above everyone and everything else?

  This is where the virtue of Temperance can help us out.  The Catechism gives a nice definition of this virtue: “Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods” (CCC 1809). 

 In other words, the temperate person uses the goods of this world; he does not abuse them.  He makes use of mammon; he does not serve it.  As human beings with physical bodies and senses, we have to make use of created things.  But what is so important—and few people truly grasp this—is that to use created goods too much or too little actually stunts our spiritual growth.

 To give in to every whim of our desires, our stomachs, or our trivial wants is not just a recipe for selfishness.  To do this consistently actually removes us from communion with God.  Does God not want us to enjoy things or be happy?  Certainly not.  But when we are so busy indulging our carnal senses or our desire for pleasure, we begin to notice that our spiritual senses go to sleep.

 Take the example of Thanksgiving Day in the USA (the holiday where temperance seems to go out the window): This day is often an excuse to overeat to extremes, to lounge around trying to digest it all, and then to come back for dessert later on.  Personally, I have never felt ready for any activity requiring higher intellectual function—let alone meditative prayer or an act of charity—after a meal like this.  One holiday is one thing.  Making a habit of this kind of indulgence forms another counteractive spiritual habit: one of not pondering spiritual things, of not making time for prayer to God, of not carrying out works of charity.

 Eating is not the only function that temperance influences.  We also must exercise temperance in our shopping, the way we spend money, in internet use, in exercise, in work, in speech.  Too much or too little in these areas can harmfully impact our lives and the lives of others.  It is worth mentioning here, too, that there is a direct connection between the virtue of temperance and the virtue of chastity.  The temperate person is also the chaste person. 

 When we’re so tied up in these “lower” goods (as necessary as they are at times), we begin to get spiritual tunnel vision.  We lose sight of the bigger picture.  We lose sight of who we are in God’s sight.  We lose sight of His plan and His will.  We lose sight of the truth about what it means to live the Christian life, a life of love of God and neighbor above all else.

 St. Paul had some strong words for those who served only their selfish, carnal desires:

 For the Christian, the measure of a good life is not “whatever I want”; the standard is always the cross.  Taking up our cross, as the Lord commands us to do, requires sacrifice, giving things up (even good things), loving even when it causes us pain and discomfort.  The virtue of temperance helps us to keep this end in mind, to always keep an eternal perspective, not just an earthly one.

 Conforming our lives to the crucified Christ is also why the spiritual tradition has always seen a value in doing penance and mortification.  Penance (doing an act that causes us discomfort) and mortification (denying ourselves something good) out of love for God and in atonement for our sins is a beautiful way to practice temperance. 

It is a way, as Edward Sri writes, to root out the “I want it now!” voice in each of us.  We might consider taking Fridays as a day of abstaining from meat; we might fast from one, two, or three meals on a day; we might deny ourselves the pleasure of having cream or sugar in our coffee for a week; we might take a cold shower one day a week; or we may make a firm resolution to smile every day at someone who bothers us. 

 We must always keep in mind that these kinds of acts are meant to put us in union with God, to increase our love for Him, for His will and not our own.  Temperance is not a matter of “spiritual athletics.”  We are not trying to pad our spiritual resume.  We exercise temperance in the body so that we can see more clearly with the eyes of the heart.  When we have our spiritual eyes purified, we will see (as the Beatitude says) God Himself.  And when we are able to see God as He reveals Himself to us, we will have perfected “the art of living.”

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Virtue & the Art of Living

Today is part 5 of the video series with Dr Sri. Today he will introduce us to the Virtue of Temperance.  

As you listen, pay attention to what rises up inside of you – do you feel resistance when he speaks of tempering our attraction to pleasures? What did you feel when he said temperance is saying more little no’s so you can say bigger yes’s? Did you feel resistance when he spoke about gluttony? What did you notice when he spoke of sinful versus virtuous anger?  

• When have you lived the virtue of temperance well?

• Where do you see your weakness in this area of your life?  

Click on the video below to be taken to the FORMED.org website to watch the video. NOTE: If you’ve not been on FORMED before – simply sign up “as a parishioner”, when prompted, identify Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, Ankeny as your parish and then use your email to register. OLIH subscribes to FORMED as our gift to you! 

Reading plan:  

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Rob Schweers (OLIH Parishioner) writes:

Everyday Courage

Sometimes things happen that remind us God has a sense of humor. This blog post is one of those things.

Not because I don’t like to write – I do it for a living – but because fortitude, specifically the courage to not be afraid, is my Achille’s heel.

We all have Achille’s heels, of course. No matter how well put together you or I may seem, there is a part of us that is still exposed. For me, that’s the courage to get out of my comfort zone without fear of failure, or what others may think of me. But as my wife gently reminds me, “That ship sailed a long time ago, honey.”

Even worse than the fear of failure might be the assumption of failure. The sense of “I know I can’t do this” keeps us from even trying. We just sit on the sidelines, wondering what could have been.

What’s your Achille’s heel?

Finding fortitude in the day to day

Perhaps the secret to overcoming our big fears is by conquering the small ones.

As Edward Sri writes in the opening to this section, fortitude is the virtue that moderates our fears, and gives us the courage to face our day-to-day challenges. While some challenges are great – disease, or challenges in marriage, are two examples – most are smaller, everyday issues.

And there is no shortage of everyday challenges:

• Sensitive discussions with friends and family

• Resisting temptation

• Stepping out of our comfort zone

• Making a job change

• Acknowledging we can’t do it alone

• And driving down Delaware Avenue on a Saturday afternoon in December

(Just making sure you’re still awake!)

These days, it takes courage to unplug not just from social media, but from work! We’re more connected than ever before. I can get work emails on my laptop and phone, and text messages on my wrist. I can work, literally, from anywhere in the world, even when I’m on vacation, or out to dinner, or when my family would rather I spend the time with them. Is that virtuous? What is it we’re afraid of when we run to do more work?

What’s your motive?

Courage isn’t always about saying yes. Sometimes it may mean saying no to things we hold dear. Ever since I was a kid, I had dreamed of being famous. Perhaps a baseball player, or a best-selling author. It didn’t matter what, as long as I was a famous something.

But over time, I had to question my motive. Am I writing that best-seller for the joy of writing, and as an outlet for my creativity, or do I want the fame and fortune? The more questions I asked, the more I saw the downsides. And now that goal has quietly drifted away. Better to be humble on earth and a saint in Heaven.

Spiritual fortitude

The other way to conquer our fears is through faith.

Sri writes about the difference between the “world” and how we are called to live out our faith. So our fear, to paraphrase the prayer to St. Michael, is just one more wicked snare of the devil designed to keep us from advancing in our virtue, and ultimately in our quest for heaven.

One of the fears I have conquered over my adult life is the fear of the Rite of Reconciliation. It takes courage to sit face to face with someone you see every week and acknowledge your weakest moments. Even the ones we wouldn’t tell our spouse of best friend.

In the same manner, we tend to be afraid of asking forgiveness from others, which leads us to not forgive them. Or ourselves. And that fear keeps us from the continuous improvement we need to live out our lives as Christ’s disciples.

We also need the courage to not be complacent in our faith – to not accept where we are today, however great that may be – but to always strive for a deeper and more loving relationship with our Lord. When things are going great, I tend to be like Peter at the Transfiguration: Hey this is pretty cool – let’s put up our tents and stay here forever! But Jesus had the courage to surrender to His father’s will, and to finish the story.

The saints were people who rejected complacency. They were ordinary people who, through their fortitude and other gifts, and by surrendering their fears to God, lived extraordinary lives. Yet we are afraid to follow in their footsteps, even as we pray for their intercessions.

One more resolution

Jesus is calling us out of the boat. As we begin the new year, may we resolve to set our fears aside. To let go, to listen, and submit to His plan for our lives, with open ears, an open heart, and the confidence that the Lord is with us on the journey.

Your Brother in Christ,

Rob Schweers

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Today's vlog post is an interview with Rich Rondeau parishioner at Our Lady’s. To know more about Rich's story follow the links below: 

• OLIH Revive, Refresh Renew: A Night with the Rondeau's

• Radio Spot with Bishop Joensen: Making it Personal with Bishop Joensen

• Catholic Mirror Article: COVID-19 Survivor says near death experience deepened his relationship with Christ

• Project Emmaus Blog post: Surviving COVID-19 becomes a gift to share

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Virtue & the Art of Living

Today is part 4 of the video series with Dr Sri. Today he will introduce us to the Virtue of Fortitude.  

As you listen, pay attention to what rises up inside of you – how does it feel when you think of doing great things for others? Do you experience fear of failure and does it hold you back from being courageous? When he speaks of patience vs perseverance – do you notice the difference and see how they both affect you?  

• When you see courage in your life – is it big events or in the everyday?

• When have you lived the virtue of fortitude well?

• Where do you see your weakness in this area of your life?  

Click on the video below to be taken to the FORMED.org website to watch the video. NOTE: If you’ve not been on FORMED before – simply sign up “as a parishioner”, when prompted, identify Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, Ankeny as your parish and then use your email to register. OLIH subscribes to FORMED as our gift to you! 

Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Ann Wright (OLIH Parishioner) writes:

Let God be Your GPS in Life

The Art of Living. Ever feel as if life is a beautiful masterpiece with every decision and plan falling into place? Then other times it looks like we threw a bucket of paint on a canvas – messy and all over the place?

How do we figure out what we want our life to look like and the legacy we want to leave? There seems to be a roadmap for just about everything. If you want a degree, go to college. If you want to learn a trade, become an apprentice and study that vocation, if you want to go on vacation map it out; the list goes on and on.

I am a firm believer in beginning with the end in mind. Until a few years ago when I heard that statement the end usually related to a goal or project on which I’m focused. I'm guessing completing projects and achieving goals are important to you too. Yet what if there’s a bigger and more important end on which we are called to focus? What if you started with focusing on entering Heaven, spending eternity with God and helping others find their path to Heaven? What could be more important? What could be more overwhelming? What could be more daunting?

Where is the roadmap to Heaven?

How many times have you been told you are in control of your own destiny? You are in the driver’s seat and are responsible for your own life, happiness, and well-being. Ultimately to a degree, you are in control.  You have choices. God gave us free will.

However, have you ever taken time to ask yourself what is and where is the roadmap to Heaven?  I don't know that we have all the answers…but what if we are open and let God guide us in this journey? Let him be our G.P.S. having confidence and faith that he will provide strategies and strength to show us the way and how to paint your life's masterpiece.

Let's face it if you don’t know where you’re going it doesn’t much matter which path you take. So as we walk this journey together; I encourage you to prayerfully examine where God is in your life today, and ask yourself these questions: are you called to, or away from God and where do you want and need him to be?

In the English language being prudent means to be cautious. That makes perfect sense to me because I’m a conservative and cautious person. However digging deeper into the reading we learned that prudence, is practical wisdom, it directs all other virtues. So how do we acquire the wisdom which will guide us in doing the right thing?

Counsel, judgment, and experience are the three principal components of Prudence. Where do we learn these and how can they serve you in creating the life God wants for you?

Information is everywhere; the key is knowing where to find that which will support you in making the right decisions. Someone said, if you’re the smartest person in the room you’re in the wrong room.  We all make mistakes and one of the biggest mistakes we can make is thinking we have to do this on our own.

In this day and age we are encouraged to stand on our own two feet and figure it out on our own. We think it’s weak to ask for help. It's true we have to learn by doing and through our mistakes we do learn. We can also learn by having the courage to ask for guidance, support, and information from those who have more experience and wisdom. Ever find yourself being impulsive only going with your gut because for whatever reason you don’t want to take the time to look into the issue? Me too. We think we don’t have time to research yet in reality we don’t have time not to.

Do you find yourself letting your passion and emotions lead you? I do. Have you found yourself saying yes out of guilt instead of a generous heart? I have. I don’t want to let people down. However when you stop, think, and consider all angles, sometimes saying no to one thing, is yes, to something else. Take time to weigh the gravity of your decision and how it will affect you and others. 

Do you base decisions on not only doing things right but doing the right thing? I know it's a cliché, but it's true. It's not always easy doing the right thing because sometimes we're torn by doing the right thing and doing what we want to do. In a world full of activities, opportunities, social media and F.O.M.O. (Fear of Missing Out) on what do we base our decisions: for example, getting up and attending Church or a faith study group or attending a social activity or sleeping in and getting an extra hour of sleep?

I work to make decisions on what I've learned in faith sharing groups, books (The Bible is a great place to start, as is this book), videos, (especially Father Mike Schmitz), daily inspirations (Matthew Kelly), the Golden Rule, Ten Commandments, and the church. Lessons also come from making mistakes. However instead of beating ourselves up, what if we remembered to ask ourselves we what learned? To this day when our son makes a mistake, my question is this: "So what did you learn from it?"

Once we have the foundation and know what to do, then the hard part starts: choosing to act and make decisions using good judgment. Every. Single. Day. Sometimes we delay making a decision even if we know it's the right one to make. Why do you delay making a decision you know is right? Sometimes is fear of failure. I like to think of the word F.A.I.L. as this: First Attempt In Learning. Other times we withdraw from fully carrying out our decision – Deciding that attending Church weekly is important and then choosing to go somewhere else instead of Church. Seems like an easy decision. It is not. Society pulls us in many directions.

Find your purpose in life and start with the end in mind. It will help you when making decisions. Jesus knew his purpose. He committed to dying on the cross to save us. That end "goal" was what supported him in every decision he made especially during the tough times. He kept his confidence in God and knew he was doing the right thing.

As in the song by Matthew West, Truth Be Told, God knows we aren’t fine so we may as well admit it and ask for help. 

Lean on others. Lean on God. Let go of the life you’ve planned and enjoy the life today and beyond this life that God has planned for you. God will provide you with the strength and strategies you need.

Your Sister in Christ,

AnnWright

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 23-Friday, January 27 – Prudence 

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Anna Schweers (OLIH Parishioner) writes:

For the majority of my life, I have had a very surface level understanding of the virtues, especially prudence. As a camper at Catholic Youth Camp in Panora, many years ago, I was given a pin that said, “I act with saintly virtues.” I liked the buzz words but I really didn’t know what it meant. After some discussion with a friend years later, we came upon the definition that virtue is “the active pursuit of the good.”

This definition completely reframed my mind. I was so struck by the fact that Dr. Sri brought up Habit 2 of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Begin with the End in Mind. As a teacher in the Ankeny Community School District, I have a close look at what the children of our community are learning. If you have children in the school system you may know that Ankeny Schools has adopted Leader in Me, which is a children’s version of those habits applied in their daily lives.

The children you encounter each day are being taught to actively pursue the good everyday. This begs for us to dive in as well. Like all of you, I want to be a good person and have good things in my life. I want to act in a way that brings about good in the world for myself and for my neighbor.

As Dr. Sri stated, “prudence is the charioteer of all virtues.” Prudence is the guiding virtue that shows us what that good actually is. We must use prudence to determine what our end goal is and the best path to get there. Throughout this section, Dr. Sri acknowledges the things that get in the way of living with prudence. I feel that all of the examples given were areas where we are choosing to only use our head knowledge or only use our heart knowledge. Our head knowledge is the things we know to be true.

When we act out of our head knowledge we tend to only act in ways that have acted before, doing things with a specific ending that we can count on. When we use only our head knowledge, we will never see the new good the Lord wants to provide for us.

Heart knowledge, on the other hand, is doing things that make us feel good and acting out of emotion. When we act out of only our heart knowledge, we make impulsive and irrational decisions. The reality is that prudence is the balance between both our head and our heart knowledge.

It is acting with right judgment while also keeping our eyes open to the experiences around us. It is being cautious while not letting anxiety take over our lives.

Jesus shows us this balance so beautifully in the story of Lazarus (John 11), Jesus’s dear friend whom he loved. Throughout the story, Jesus acknowledges the truth in that “this illness will not end in death,” (John 11:4). Later on in the story we see that Jesus still wept over his friend. Jesus knew what was going to happen and could be confident in his decision to come when he did, but he also acknowledged his emotion and felt it.

When we live with prudence we acknowledge the both/and of our lives, rather than the either/or. I pray that as you continue this journey in learning about prudence and the virtues, you acknowledge that there is room for both your intellect and your heart in decision making.

I pray that you will recognize where you have been and allow it to impact where you are going. Most importantly, I pray that you allow the Lord to be an active participant in your decision making and rely on him to give you what you need to, “act with saintly virtues.”

Your Sister in Christ,

Anna Schweers

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 9 – Wednesday January 18 – Part One: Virtue and Friendship 

• Friday, January 20 – Part Two: The Four Cardinal Virtues 

• Monday, January 23-Friday, January 27 – Prudence 

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Virtue & the Art of Living

Today is part 3 of the video series with Dr Sri. Today he will introduce us to the Virtue of Prudence.  

As you listen, pay attention to what rises up inside of you – do you feel resistance when he speaks of seeking counsel? Do you feel empowered as he speaks of wise judgement? Do you feel anxious or fearful when he talks about decisiveness?  

• When have you lived the virtue of prudence well?

• Where do you see your weakness in this area of your life?  

Click on the video below to be taken to the FORMED.org website to watch the video. NOTE: If you’ve not been on FORMED before – simply sign up “as a parishioner”, when prompted, identify Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, Ankeny as your parish and then use your email to register. OLIH subscribes to FORMED as our gift to you! 

Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 9 – Wednesday January 18 – Part One: Virtue and Friendship 

• Friday, January 20 – Part Two: The Four Cardinal Virtues 

• Monday, January 23-Friday, January 27 – Prudence 

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Patty Mayer, Our Lady’s Director of Adult Faith Formation, writes:

As I read this book, I started to question how virtuous I am. I could easily create a list of examples showing my failures, yet I didn’t feel condemned by my imperfection. Instead I found this knowledge intriguing and wanted to know more. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the virtues and being challenged to grow in virtue. How about you?

This first part of the book has given us much to think about between values vs virtues, being aware of our desires (and wanting to do the right thing), the four characteristics (consistency, ease, promptitude, and joy), the three keys (education, effort, and grace), and realizing that each virtue is connected (hinged) to others. At first glance, this may seem overwhelming to take in, but is it?

Let’s do a quick review:

Values vs Virtues. What I value is what is important to me. I value people, my faith, and relationships. How I act towards what I value comes from my virtue. Am I on time? Do I respect others? How do I treat people when I meet them? I’m not perfect and I fail, often, but I must also do some things well because people do rely on and trust me. What do you value and how do you demonstrate its value?

Being aware of our desires. I think that there are times “fake it till you make it” is the way to go, but how and when does that interior desire change? It’s easy to desire things that aren’t good for us –  chocolate, chips, soda, binge watching – versus eating a healthy salad, true portion sizes, or going for a walk. In my experience when I’m desiring to be more heathy, and am being intentional I do desire healthy options because it’s good for me and I will feel better both now and later.

I have the honor of having conversations with people about prayer, devotions, and attending Mass. These are all great practices, but it’s amazing to witness someone who goes from “going through the motions,” or struggling regularly, to someone who obviously desires those moments. When our internal desires shift we are drawn towards what it good for us, what God calls us to. What desires keep you from growing in virtue? What desires align with what God is calling you to?

Consistency, ease, promptitude, and joy. The first three words are about creating good habits through intentionally choosing the right thing, and over time doing it without much thought. I’m listening to the Catechism in a Year with Fr Mike Schmitz. Since January 1 I’ve been consistently working on finding the when and how to make it happen. At the moment I’m 3 days behind because I’m struggling to build this new habit. But, there are four characteristics, not three. It’s about more than building a habit, it’s about being joyful within it.

Luckily, for me, listening to Fr Mike talk about the Catechism is something that I do find joy in, but that’s not true in all habits until our desire changes. What are the things you are doing to build good habits? How does the ‘habit’ change when you enter into it with joy instead of obligation?

Education, effort, grace. Education is important. Years ago, I worked with troubled teenagers. More than once I had a young man ask me ‘why doesn’t the school teach us the skills you do?’ The rationale behind the question: ‘because if they did maybe I would have never ended up in here.’ That question always hurt my heart because it is the important life lessons that aren’t always taught. Where did you learn about virtues? Did anyone teach you these “skills” growing up or were you on your own?

First, we learn and then comes both our effort and God’s grace. We need to build up our virtuous muscles, and rely on God. I think of how in 2016 I started to run (not sure you could call it running when I started), my first day was 28 minutes of alternating between several minutes of walking and 1 minute of running. At the end of my first “run” I ran a total of 8 minutes and with each minute I thought I wouldn’t make it. I spent 3 days a week “running.” Eight weeks later, I ran for 28 minutes straight, eventually I was able to run a 5k, and shortly thereafter, I was ready for a 6k.

The same is true for our spiritual “muscles” we need to work them and train them to strengthen them. No matter how far we go on our own, we need God’s grace. I think of how when I went through my divorce my daily prayer was “God help me to forgive and to get through this with my integrity intact.” I know that it was God’s grace that got me through – I could only do so much, and God carried me through the rest. How do you see you and God working together in your life to build virtue?

Part two of the book is a journey through the four cardinal virtues. With each Cardinal virtue, we will be introduced to others that help to build up and support our life of virtue. I think the important thing, as we continue forward, is be open to what you can learn and how you may apply this knowledge to your life.

Each week on Monday we will highlight the FORMED video with Dr Sri summarizing the virtue of the week. On Wednesday and Friday the blog will feature people from our parish who will share about that virtue and how they live, or attempt to live, it in their daily life.

I hope and pray that this journey is fruitful for you as you explore the virtues and how you may be called to grow in virtue as a result!

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 9 – Wednesday January 18 – Part One: Virtue and Friendship 

• Friday, January 20 – Part Two: The Four Cardinal Virtues 

• Monday, January 23-Friday, January 27 – Prudence 

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Virtue & the Art of Living

Today’ blog includes part 2 of the video series with Dr Sri. Today he speaks on chapter 4 & 5.  

How to Grow in Virtue: Three Keys.  

1. Educate yourself on the virtues – and the vices that tempt us away 

2. Much Effort – focus not on the temptations, but focus on building the virtue 

3. Rely on God’s Grace – patient with ourselves, be okay with struggle, and ask for God’s grace 

Click on the video below to be taken to the FORMED.org website to watch the video. NOTE: If you’ve not been on FORMED before – simply sign up “as a parishioner”, when prompted, identify Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, Ankeny as your parish and then use your email to register. OLIH subscribes to FORMED as our gift to you! 

Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 9 – Wednesday January 18 – Part One: Virtue and Friendship 

• Friday, January 20 – Part Two: The Four Cardinal Virtues 

• Monday, January 23-Friday, January 27 – Prudence 

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Jeremy Vortherms (OLIH Parisioner) writes:

Good day, all.  How is your reading progressing?  I hope you are finding the book as enjoyable and challenging as I am.

By this point in the blog, you’ve likely (hopefully) read the introductory pages of the book, but I wanted to share some thoughts before we delve further into the book. I hope to give you a chance to pause and reflect as we journey through the first part of the book, but keep in mind, the thoughts I’m sharing come from my personal reference points.

During Advent, Our Lady’s hosted a short study on the lively virtues that originated from a talk by Bishop Barron.   Generally, those conversations centered around virtues as the remedy to vices in our lives.  That series focused on a broader list than just the seven lively virtues, but there was an interesting perspective that awakened in me: When I spend time understanding what virtues are, I can begin to seek that lifestyle. 

Too often in my faith, I concentrate on what I haven’t done well, or correctly, or properly, etc. This focus on the negative masks the good that Jesus is calling us towards and that he has modeled for us.  He is calling us toward the life of virtue.  It is important that we focus the positive changes that being virtuous brings about.  Relationships are transformed when we do, including our relationship with Jesus.

This past summer, during a conversation with Patty, an idea began to take form.  I didn’t have a whiteboard at the time, but this picture below was forming in my mind. 

I started the conversation with a distorted view of virtue. I thought being virtuous was not exceeding a moral boundary; I think I even called these my non-negotiables. Things I would never do even if the opportunity presented itself. 

Patty challenged me to see them differently and asked me if a virtuous life would ever entertain such things?  Thus, temptation in my life was revealed in a new way.  My perspective shifted a bit and I no longer want to be settling against a moral backstop; it’s not what Jesus is calling me to.  It’s not what Jesus is calling you to. You can imagine my surprise when these exact themes are revisited in Chapter 2 of our book. 

We all face temptations in life, and we likely won’t ever be completely free of them.  But what I seek now is to move towards the virtuous life.

But how?  That is what I’m hoping to gain from the remainder of the book and the conversations that will follow.  The last parts of the introduction will explore the characteristics of virtues and how to grow in virtue.

One last set of thoughts to encourage you in the reading: Once I started looking at virtue in my life, the theme started showing up in many aspects – bible study, faith sharing, and work (of all places).  Many of the ways you can explore your faith point to the same outcome, albeit indirectly at times, but all to the same end. 

The virtuous life is one that considers others above self, it is set on truth and seeks the one that is truth, Jesus.  Enjoy the remainder of the book and the fruit that comes from walking with God. 

Your Brother in Christ,

Jeremey Vortherms

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 9 – Wednesday January 18 – Part One: Virtue and Friendship 

• Friday, January 20 – Part Two: The Four Cardinal Virtues 

• Monday, January 23-Friday, January 27 – Prudence 

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Virtue & the Art of Living

As we begin reading our book I’d like to share with you part one of an interview with the author. In this video, Edward Sri talks about “What is Virtue” and some of the background behind the sub title of the book: “The Cardinal Virtues and the Freedom to Love.”  

Click on the video below to be taken to the FORMED.org website to watch the video. NOTE: If you’ve not been on FORMED before – simply sign up “as a parishioner”, when prompted, identify Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, Ankeny as your parish and then use your email to register. OLIH subscribes to FORMED as our gift to you! 

Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 9 – Wednesday January 18 – Part One: Virtue and Friendship 

• Friday, January 20 – Part Two: The Four Cardinal Virtues 

• Monday, January 23-Friday, January 27 – Prudence 

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice 

Monday, January 9  

When I started my ministry at OLIH I learned that we give away a book at Christmas, and part of my job was to find a book each year. At that time Fr Steve also suggested that we “do” something with that book to engage people in its content.

My first year I offered a night of coming together to talk about it. That year we gave away 1,000 books and had less than 10 people show up for the event – I’m not great with math, but I’m pretty sure that statistically that’s not a great return on our investment. The next year I reimagined what we would “do,” and thus began our Christmas book blog!

I don’t have any mathematical equations that tell me how many we reach this way, but I do know the conversations I get to experience about the book/blog has increased over the years! We are blessed in this parish to have many wonderful people over the years who are willing to share their stories and insights in our blogs so that we can grow together as a community of believers.

Welcome to our seventh annual Christmas Book blog!

I encourage you to read the book (reading plan below), check out the blog (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), and continue the conversation through commenting on the blog and talking with others about what you are reading!  

Why The Art of Living this year? As I read this book, I found it both engaging and challenging. I found myself drawn to knowing more about each virtue and how living the virtues of prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice will help me to live more authentically as a Christian, while blessing those whom I encounter throughout my day.

The author gives very practical examples of how to live a virtuous life in both day-to-day situations and larger life decisions. I found myself looking more closely at my life celebrating where I found I have developed a habit of virtue and an honest exploration of where I need to continue to grow in virtue.

My hope is that you too will take a closer look at your life, your choices, and where you may be called to continue to grow in virtue. I believe that we if contemplate how we live the Cardinal virtues we would also find ourselves living more fully the Christian life God calls us to!  

I look forward to the next six weeks and the conversations that will arise as we read, pray, listen and share on our own and with one another.  

—Patty Mayer 

Reading plan:  

• Monday, January 9 – Wednesday January 18 – Part One: Virtue and Friendship 

• Friday, January 20 – Part Two: The Four Cardinal Virtues 

• Monday, January 23-Friday, January 27 – Prudence 

• Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 3 – Fortitude 

• Monday, February 6 – Friday, February 10 – Temperance 

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice