Piece of Cake

You know as well as I that leading a morally good life in this world is an easy thing to do. A piece of cake really…..Or maybe this is just wishful thinking.

Most likely, ease in leading a morally good life is not the reality we experience. With the relentless tug of our own poor habits in addition to the temptations of the world coming at us in all directions, our experiences often remind us that leading a morally good life can be very hard. In fact, many a good man has given up on the quest altogether.

I think it is necessary to give you a glimmer of hope and a source of encouragement in your journey to Manly Holiness by quoting the wisdom taught by our Catholic Church:

Virtues “make possible ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally good life.” CCC 1804

Did the word “ease” stand out to you? It stood out to me. It seems that leading a morally good life can be a piece of cake after all! And not only that, it is also possible to have mastery of self and joy in life. It is a 4 for 1 deal. Ease, self-mastery, joy, and a morally good life – all but for the single price of forming our habits into virtuous perfections. I’d say this is a deal you won’t want to pass up!

Living Manly Virtue sows the seed to living a morally good life. Living a morally good life bears the fruit of more virtue. Have you ever seen the snowball effect go uphill? Manly Virtue and moral living is an example of this, as we elevate our human nature to be more in tune with God’s will for us.

And to top this piece of cake off with a dollop of ice cream and a cherry, Manly Virtue and leading a morally good life sets up our whole being to grow ever closer to communion with God!

So now you know as well as I, that leading a morally good life in the world is easy. A piece of cake (except for our efforts in building virtuous habits in our lives!)

Here’s a practical example of virtue we can build right now – discipline and formation – as you continue reading more guides in this series, Manly Virtue: The Call to Greatness!