A great deal of the Church’s energy from the time of my youth until now has emphasized the importance of catechesis and education in regard to the Church’s teaching. I do believe and still believe that this is important. However, anthropologically it falls short of what man needs for salvation insofar as we are not only called to be graced by information but also habit.
In this regard, when we look at the error of Socrates, we remember that he claimed that all a person needed for righteousness was knowledge of what was righteous. In his view, he recognized the great importance of critical thinking, and the assimilation of information, but did not stress human behavior as a ordinary means to internalize such truths.
Aristotle brings the two together in a way that the Church in practice needs to return, in my opinion. Let me put it to you this way: our soul and intellect may be “enlightened” by the truths of the gospel, the truths of virtue – but our body needs to participate in these truths as well.
Behavior is the vehicle, when in conjunction with an enlightened mind that we are able to infuse within our body and soul the very habit of righteousness, and all the theological virtues.
Growing as disciples means that we must not only learn, but train our flesh in the very truths of the gospel, acting in conjunction with such truths.
It is not enough to study “chastity” and therefore to become ipsofacto chaste. Nor is it enough to study humility and become humble. The interior life requires an interior habit that is manifest in the body itself, for it is the flesh that is weak and dulls the mind to lose in an instant of passion and temptation all its wisdom.
With habit of mind and body, in the things of God and natural justice, we become competent. And in this regard my entire article is utterly useless in being an application of my point. What would be an application of this point would be to develop relationships, groups, where one is held accountable to virtue, one is building virtue alongside others with good habits.
I have begun to see this finally evolve in the Church with groups like Exodus 90, yet the attitude towards the mind refreshed with knowledge as the sole endeavor to holiness has led to all sorts of disordered forms of orthodoxy today. I’d like to suggest therefore that not only the study but the living out of traditional spirituality being enforced in your lives, and to carve out a community that will reinforce that effort to bring into the flesh what is known by the Spirit.
Photo: Ben White, Unsplash / PD-US
