Association Of Catholic Bloggers

Have you ever felt drawn to a petty person? I seriously doubt it. Why? Because pettiness is unattractive. Pettiness makes a person look small. Classic example: The Church lady who gripes and complains about the most trivial of matters. You never hear a kind word from her mouth, and you cannot wait to get away from her. Petty people usually act that way to make themselves feel superior; as if their way of doing something would have been the better approach. There is an emptiness within a petty person that only God can heal. Pettiness is Unattractive When someone feels so compelled to knock down the efforts of others, or to demean others, to build up themselves in comparison to others, we should feel pity for that person. The need for Christ’s healing is great, for the hole in that person’s heart and soul is great. I do not think anyone chooses to be petty, as it is an outcome of deeper fears and desires. Those fears and longings need to be addressed first, so that the healing can begin.

Do you feel compelled to always be right? Does the slightest offense send you on a warpath? Do you find yourself complaining, a lot? Your common sense tells you that no one likes to be around a know-it-all. Nor, do others appreciate interacting with people who get so easily offended. And let’s face it, chronic complainers have few friends. So, if you exhibit any of this unwanted behavior, then it’s time to seek Magnanimity! Seek Magnanimity What is Magnanimity? It is the pursuit of honor and greatness, even in the presence of adversity, in correlation to one’s own ability. It is a call to use the talents given to us by God, to the best of our ability. Magnanimity pursues perfection of soul. To pursue honor and greatness, rather than pettiness, consider that it might be better to... Read more...

Going from good to great sounds daunting, doesn’t it? It need not be so. To be magnanimous or noble-minded, to be great, simply means that we need to recognize the talents that God has given us and use them to the best of our abilities for the benefit of others. That added extra phrase, ‘for the benefit of others,’ marks the clear distinction of intention between self-sacrificing love for one’s neighbor and self-serving love. Where do you start? Take an honest assessment of your talents. Perhaps you are a good listener. If so, be magnanimous with your time and give a listening ear to those in need. Perhaps you are a good communicator/teacher. If so, share your knowledge with others. God gave each of us talents, differing talents, which is a good thing. Read more...

Generous to a fault – Have you ever heard that phrase? It describes a person who gives until he has nothing else to give; he gives from the heart for the benefit of others. He gives in a self-sacrificing manner, making the gesture magnanimous. The saints are great examples of people who do things for the right reason, with the right intention – that of self-sacrificing love. Saint Francis of Assisi is one of the most magnanimous saints, according to Father Romano Guardini: The perfection of expression can be seen in the saints. God appears in them. But since man is the image of God, and God is the model of man, this manifestation also reveals the essential nature of man, of every man. He becomes truly himself. How did St. Francis of Assisi become truly himself? By not... Read more...