Monday, June 12 : St Hildegard of Bingen

All of the virtues have different functions, yet one goal, beatitude! The virtues precede one another in the formation of inner rectitude. All of the virtues are contained in God’s wisdom (intimate, interior knowledge), they tend towards wisdom and assist man in his spiritual and bodily needs. When the fear of the Lord inspires the soul, it honors God and progresses in the divine works. Trust in God touches the soul and becomes constant, because as one grows in constant trust, one’s thoughts rise always to God. Confident faith draws towards it all the virtues and brings the wine of the Spirit to flow in the cask of the heart, to be served out for all. This is why believers exult in joy, confident in eternal life. Thirsty for divine righteousness, they nurse from the breast of holiness and are never filled. Because holiness surpasses human expectations, they remain enthralled in the contemplation of God. When man seeks to live according to the truth, he forgets himself, tastes and drinks of the virtues that render him strong, as wine in the veins of the one who drinks it. He will never risk falling into excess or sin, just as a drunk man no longer pays attention to what he does, and is outside of himself. MMen of faith love God, and this love ignores lassitude and perseveres in beatitude.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team