July 21

Christian Simplicity

Preparation. - Having told His disciples to be prudent as serpents, our Saviour said: “Be ye simple as doves” (Mat. 10. 16). We shall meditate tomorrow, first, on the excellence of simplicity, and secondly, on the precious effect it brings about. As the fruit of our meditation, we shall often pray to the Lord with David to renew in us the spirit of innocence and uprightness, which will detach us from every thing and enable us to seek solely God’s glory and good pleasure. “Renew a right spirit in my bowels” (Is. 50. 12).

I. Excellence Of Christian Simplicity

Simplicity, according to St. Thomas, is thus called in opposition to duplicity, which consists in exteriorly uttering sentiments entirely opposite to the interior. Simplicity means uprightness, and is straightforward without double dealing. This virtue is but little known among men, says Cardinal Bona; it is priceless in itself, and pleases God above all.

Holy Scripture, in fact, declares that God loves simplicity, for it wins His Heart; being Truth itself, and hating deceit, He cannot help cherishing a soul that ignores dissimulation. Wherefore He defends her as the shepherd defends the sheep which the wolf is trying to carry off. “He protects them that walk in simplicity” (Prov. 2. 7); He enlightens them, leads them, manifests His wishes to them (Prov. 3. 32), and “His will is in them that walk in simplicity” (Prov. 11. 20). Hence Holy Writ enjoins us to unite simplicity with the other virtues: “Be obedient ... in the simplicity of your heart and sincerity of God” (2 Cor. 1. 12). Simplicity should sanctify all our good works and all the duties indispensable for securing salvation. Our Lord requires that our eye should be simple, that is, that our intention should be pure, and that our left hand should not know what our right hand does (Mat. 6. 3).

From all this we should draw the following conclusions: first, Christian simplicity disengages us from our own selves and from creatures, and raises us above self-love and all human consideration. Secondly, it reminds us of God alone by purifying our intentions and places Him in our heart by sanctifying our desires and affections. This shows us how excellent this virtue is, since it strips us of all that is low and earthly, to clothe us with the splendors of divine truth and holiness. Hence they that are simple serve God in the midst of the world as well as in solitude; when adversity afflicts them, as well as when prosperity smiles upon them. Are these our dispositions? Do we accept with equal indifference sufferings and joys? In either of these we shall find the supreme Good, which will be sufficient for us in all things, if, like holy Job, we are “simple and fearing God.”

O Jesus, enable me to understand the excellence of simplicity which is so opposed to all deceit and dissimulation. Thou protectest those who practice it, and sidest with them. I am resolved to practice it towards my superiors and my fellow-men. Grant that I may cling to Thee alone in my thoughts and intentions, in my desires and projects, in my words and deeds.

II. Effects Of Christian Simplicity

“Simplicity,” says St. Gregory, “tempers the cunning of the serpent,” for, as St. Remigius observes, prudence without it, runs the risk of being immoderate and excessive. Simplicity never prefers its interest to the glory of God and the welfare of the neighbor. It ignores evasions and subterfuges, hates lying and loves truth. It does not deny its mistakes or disguise its faults, but ingenuously acknowledges them when there is occasion to do so. Caring but little about what people think or say about her, the truly simple soul pays no regard to human opinion, or esteem, nor to any want of deference, for her whole thought, her whole solicitude is to please God.

Wherefore peace never departs from her heart. Being always and every where the same, she lives in her interior, as if she were alone with God on earth, without worrying about what troubles worldlings, the proud, the ambitious, the conceited. The worldly-minded act through low and selfish motives, and make use of numberless wiles to secure their object. The simple soul, on the contrary, ignores all cabals, all secret designs and machinations; her politics consists in not having any, but in trusting in God and in His wisdom, and to abandon herself unreservedly to His guidance.

For this reason she walks in all confidence and security, as the Holy Ghost says: “He that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently” (Prov. 10. 9). And how could it be otherwise? She wearies not in weighing and measuring her words, her actions, her manner of proceeding. Being polite, discreet and charitable without affectation, she finds nothing to rob her heart of its equanimity. As she avoids reverting anxiously to the past, since this serves only to diminish peace of conscience, without rendering one more fervent or more pure, she lives like a child of good will, trusting in obedience, and leaving to her spiritual director the care of answering for her before God (Hebr. 13. 17). Hence she is never gloomy nor dissipated in mind, but always happy and contented, obliging towards all, and forgetful of self in order to attend to her duties.

O Jesus, O Mary, enable me to participate in the happy effects of evangelical uprightness and simplicity, by granting me the following dispositions: first, a candid frankness that will remove from my sentiments all dissimulation and malice, and will help me ingenuously to acknowledge my mistakes; secondly, a profound peace, flowing from sincerity of heart in seeking God alone; and thirdly, an entire confidence in God and a perfect self-surrender to His Providence, the sources of the spiritual joy, which is the lot of the children of the heavenly Father and a fruit of their filial love towards Him.