Bishop A. Tanquerey's Comments on Living a Rule

A. Tanquerey, in The Spiritual Life: a Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology, some wise guidance on utilizing circumstances to exercise the virtues.

1334.B) We must likewise carefully use the thousand and one circumstances wherein, by reason of the continuit of the effort, we can exercise ourselves in fortitude and patience.

This is done by those who from morning to night:

• submit joyfully to a rule
• who strive to be attentive at their prayers, and recollected all day long
• who keep silence when inclined to speak
• who avoid the sight of such objects as excite curiosity
• who suffer without complaint the unseasonableness of the weather
• who show kindness to those towards whom they feel a natural antipathy
• who accept humbly and patiently the reproaches made to them
• who accommodate themselves to the tastes, desires and temperaments of others
• who stand contradiction without irritation, in a word,
• who strive to vanquish their own petty passions and to conquer themselves.

To do all this, not once in passing, but habitually, to do so not merely patiently, but joyfully--this is already heroic virtue, and when later on grave circumstances present themselves, heroic action will not prove too difficult: for we shall then have the strength of the Holy Ghost Himself.

"You shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me." (Acts 1:8)

Living our rule joyfully, and all therein, living the virtues to a heroic degree, offers good soul-works for nesting within the Sacred Heart.