A Shrug Is Meager Exercise

February 02, 2012 by Pat Gohn

Continued from Page 1

St Augustine knew if we stopped living a life patterned on virtue, the light that Christ enkindled in us would die out.

To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all 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 (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence). (Augustine, De moribus eccl. 1, 25, 46:PL 32, 1330-1331)

There really is an art to living above mediocrity. And there really are remedies found in prayer and the sacraments for our movement from bad to good, and from good to better.

More frequent confession, check.

More fasting and prayer, check.

More time at Mass, and before the Eucharist. Check. Check.

Dubay writes, "It is surely no exaggeration to say that if we lived one percent of what we hear and see and read in our splendid Catholic liturgies in a year or month, we would be saints long ago."

It's spiritual exercise we need, more than anything else.

Even if it means sweating the small stuff.

Page: 2 of 2

2/2/2012 5:00:00 AM

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About Pat Gohn

Pat Gohn is a Catholic writer, speaker, and the host of the Among Women Podcast and blog. Her book Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious: Celebrating the Gift of Catholic Womanhood is published by Ave Maria Press.

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