THE VIRTUE OF MAGNANIMITY

PERSONAL  EXCELLENCE IS THE ULTIMATE AIM OF MAGNANIMITY

'Live a life worthy of your high calling!"
Ephesians 4:1

 

Virtue is a habit of the mind, the will and the heart, which allows us to achieve personal  excellence and effectiveness.  

Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that magnanimity is the habit of striving to do great things, the capacity to challenge ourselves in doing great things. Magnanimity is the thirst to lead a full and intense life. He gives himself over to it with passion and enthusiasm. "Magnanimity makes a man deem himself worthy of great things in consideration of the gifts he holds from God."

The person lacking in magnanimity suffers from a vice called “pusillanimity” which means “smallness of soul.” Whereas the magnanimous person seeks what is best, even if it is difficult, the pusillanimous person shies away from noble, arduous tasks because they will demand a lot out of him. He instead pursues the path of least resistance, opting for whatever is easier. 

The magnanimous Christian "expects everything of himself as if God did not exist and expects everything of God as if  he could do nothing on his own." He behaves like an adult on the natural plane and like a child on the supernatural plane. 

MAGNANIMITY BEGINS WHEN WE START BELIEVING THAT WE HAVE WORTH! 

“Don’t settle for mediocrity. Take a chance. Take a risk. 

Find that passion. 

Know what you’re really worth.” 
Anonymous