In Chapter 12, “How contemplation
destroys sin and nurtures virtues” (35-36), Anonymous
mentions “virtues” for the first time, and you should read Butcher’s note to understand his use of
the word. In medieval times, the Seven Deadly Sins were often presented
as opposites to the Virtues .
Over the centuries, however, the
presentation of “virtues” moved in directions that did not always compare them
with the “seven vices.” As a consequence, the so-called seven virtues
were divided into two classes: the cardinal virtues and the theological
virtues, and often they were discussed with the fruits of the Holy Spirit
as St. Paul describes them in Galatians 5.
As good as all this is (and difficult
to keep straight as to what goes where), perhaps the Boy Scout Oath is about as
good as it gets (outside The Cloud of Unknowing) when it comes to
describing a virtuous life: "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful,
friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and
reverent." And yet, as Anonymous will remind us, there’s more to it
all than that. No self-help program comes close to his wisdom.
As Anonymous encourages us to think
about vices and virtues, he admits that some practices are “good” and that
“they help [us] grow in grace.” (35-36). What are such practices?
But as good as these habits,
disciplines, and practices are, they are not equal to the one practice that
truly helps us destroy sin and nurture the virtues. What is that
“work” that “trumps everything else” and how does he describe it?
Anonymous’ final paragraph in
Chapter 12 is powerful, well worth reading over and over, many times, so that
it sinks into our awareness of what’s important when we wish to cultivate a
life characterized by everything that’s on the tree of virtues. What two
virtues—Anonymous will discuss them at length in the upcoming chapters-- are
especially important to cultivate as a contemplative?
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