Magnanimity

If the word  magnanimity isn’t already a part of your regular vocabulary, consider adding it today. The Latin roots of the word “magn” and “anima” are translates as “great soul.” Other uses of the word include ‘the virtue of greatness’ and ‘striving for excellence.’ I remember a talk given by Fr. Peter Laird, the Vicar General for the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis, that focused on magnanimity. Fr. Laird presented the life of Holiness as a life striving for excellence in all things. God created each of us in a specific way, with individual talents and potentials, and we can cooperate with God’s Grace to achieve excellence in all areas of our life. Excellent spirituality, excellent discipline, to be physically and mentally excellent, and to live our vocation excellently!

God created us either male or female, and so too we must strive, with God’s guidance and Grace, to be excellent men and women. John Paul II’s great theological gift called the “Theology of the Body” examines the things that are essential to our masculinity and femininity and how the genders should relate to one another in holiness.

I am so excited that the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation will be offering men’s and women’s retreats to both Youth and Young Adults this year so that many Catholics in Maine can discover the truth and beauty of who they are as a son or daughter of God.  I have the privilege of working on the men’s retreats which are titled ‘Fully Alive.’ Our Catholic Faith is full of examples of authentic manliness lived out in a life of holiness. Just take a look at the lives of the saints and you will find men who strived to imitate Christ and serve His Church. 

I find it interesting then, that in our contemporary times, living an authentic Catholic life of virtue and prayer isn’t seen as a manly thing to do! Perhaps it is because modern men feel like a generation of men raised by women. The reality is that for a lot of guys, male role models are not present in everyday life. Could it be that when men get involved in their local Catholic Parish, they don’t find a spirituality relevant to their masculinity or a faith that challenges them as men?

What I think we need is a sort of renaissance. Men who imitate Christ, men who live sacrificial lives of service as priests, husbands, and fathers. Men who strive to be the most excellent man they can be and in doing so fulfill God’s plan for them as His son’s. 

 Joe Mailhot