The practice of the Little Virtues is a large part of the reason I became a Daughter of St. Francis de Sales. Focusing on these virtues freed me from the need for absolute perfection and allowed me to shift my attention to the small things I could do from day to day to move me closer to a life of devotion.
The season of Advent is a good time to review where we stand in relation to the little Salesian virtues. In particular, it is good to consider those virtues which seemed to be lacking in Bethlehem when a young woman, heavy with her first child, sought shelter with her husband after a long and dusty journey: kindness, hospitality, generosity and thoughtful concern for others.
The baby, who was then born in a manger, later gave an unambiguous teaching about kindness, hospitality, generosity and compassion in Matthew 25 when he said, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
It is easy to become overwhelmed with the needs of the world when we follow the news. As individuals, we have little impact on big problems like world hunger or violence. But Saint Francis de Sales offers us wise guidance when he says, “Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily.” Another great saint, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, said, “Spread love everywhere you go, first of all in your house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”
What are some of the ways to practice the Little Virtues during this Advent season? Offer to cuddle a young mother’s baby for an hour so she can take a nap or go for a walk. Compliment the harried cashier at the grocery store. Check on someone you haven’t seen at Mass recently. Make a batch of cookies and take them to the police department. Walk across the street and visit the lonely old lady who lives there. Call a friend or family member you haven’t spoken to for a while. Switch lanes so another driver can safely merge into traffic. Offer to shop for groceries or bring a meal to someone recovering from illness or surgery. Gather a few friends to sing Christmas carols at a nursing home.
Who knows? You may actually be ministering to Jesus himself as you put the Little Virtues into practice.
Sue Roth
Daughter of St. Francis de Sales
Consecrated 4/10/2011
