True Simplicity

[Brigid]

True simplicity is always good and agreeable to God.

St. Francis de Sales

[Patricia]

What is true simplicity? To be simple as a child is in the way a child is trusting and forgiving? To be simple in lifestyle? What do you say?

[Brigid]

What is true simplicity? To be simple as a child is in the way a child is trusting and forgiving? To be simple in lifestyle? What do you say?

Right before this, St. Francis says,

We must, after the example of ou St. Bernard, be quite clean and neat, but not particular or dainty.

It would seem to me, too, that an innocence, temperance and prudence would be included with this. As would - as you say - trust and confidence in Him. As far as lifestyle goes, I would think that modesty (different for a man than for a woman) and no excesses in either material goods or in acts. Does anyone agree? What would you add (or subtract)?

[Bailey2]

We must, after the example of ou St. Bernard, be quite clean and neat, but not particular or dainty.

I'm not sure Maximillian Kolbe would agree with that...... you should see the photograph of him in his office.  Looks like the office of a true ADHD individual!

It would seem to me, too, that an innocence, temperance and prudence would be included with this. As would - as you say - trust and confidence in Him. As far as lifestyle goes, I would think that modesty (different for a man than for a woman) and no excesses in either material goods or in acts. Does anyone agree? What would you add (or subtract)?

Yup!   And what about simplicity in prayer?  Didn't some Saint say that prayer becomes more and more simple as one progresses in it?

[Brigid]

I'm not sure Maximillian Kolbe would agree with that...... you should see the photograph of him in his office.  Looks like the office of a true ADHD individual!

 

And what about simplicity in prayer?  Didn't some Saint say that prayer becomes more and more simple as one progresses in it?

Yeah, I remember that too. St. Teresa of Avila? St. Therese of Lisieux?

[Shin]

Simple as a child, I like the way that is put. 

A good and modest child.

[Shin]

I think many people are so used to living in sin they simply do not anymore understand their motivations are bad when they do many things, they think the way they live is the only way to live.

I am thinking of this as a Catholic, because there are many Catholics like this and I know it myself. We simply do things for reasons of emotion and desire that are wrong, and since they are outwardly good or devout, we think we are doing good things. But it is actually our own self we are serving rather than God.

So becoming like a child again is truly the way because as a child we let go of the complicated mask of life we build up and live in, when we become people of the world.

We begin anew.

[Bailey2]

I think many people are so used to living in sin they simply do not anymore understand their motivations are bad when they do many things, they think the way they live is the only way to live.

I am thinking of this as a Catholic, because there are many Catholics like this and I know it myself. We simply do things for reasons of emotion and desire that are wrong, and since they are outwardly good or devout, we think we are doing good things. But it is actually our own self we are serving rather than God.

So becoming like a child again is truly the way because as a child we let go of the complicated mask of life we build up and live in, when we become people of the world.

We begin anew.

very nicely said!   

[Brigid]

'I do not know why God inspires me to speak so often of simplicity, unless it be that He seems to me to have such a horror of the contrary. Were I to see in a soul all the other virtues without that of simplicity, were it even favored with all those graces which our Lord bestows on His dearest friends -- all would seem to be but deceit and illusion.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

[Shin]

'I do not know why God inspires me to speak so often of simplicity, unless it be that He seems to me to have such a horror of the contrary. Were I to see in a soul all the other virtues without that of simplicity, were it even favored with all those graces which our Lord bestows on His dearest friends -- all would seem to be but deceit and illusion.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

The more simple we keep it, the more clear everything becomes. All the answers..