This section on the gifts of the Holy Spirit truly strikes
at the heart of the new Church in some parishes. Years ago, someone in
authority in a chancery office told me that all priests should have business
degrees. He thought that running the finances of a parish trumped all other
pastoral duties, obviously, including dispensing the sacraments.
I thought “Oh dear, St. John Vianney would not have made
it.”
His answer is what Manning would call, perhaps, a prudent
answer, based on the ideals of the world regarding monetary solvency.
However, the wise man would have been called by this
chancery authority a fool, for the wise man sees things through the eyes of
heaven.
Manning writes this: Suppose any man to do what Saint
Charles Borromeo did-sell the whole of his patrimony, and distribute it all in
one day to the poor. The world would certainly call him a fool. The prudent men
of this world would have thought him mad. The political economist would have
said that he committed a double evil: that his profuse almsgiving only promoted
indolence and beggary and that stripping of himself of all things was a signal
improvidence.”
Wisdom sees the world and heaven with the eyes of a “higher
light”, as Manning notes.
“Prudence, which belongs to the natural order of this world,
aims at two things: it aims at conduct which shall be irreproachable in the
eyes of men, and at a certain happiness which shall be so attained…Wisdom aims
at conformity to the perfections of God; at a state which is supernatural and
eternal; at an end which is above this earth; at a bliss which the world can
neither give nor understand…”
Manning refers to wisdom as in the gift of counsel, which
includes prudence but more. He states, “It is certain quality or perfection
infused into the reason of man by the grace of the Holy Ghost, whereby the
reason is made able to discern not only right and wrong, nor only the way of
obedience, but also the way of perfection; that is, to know that which, between
two things both good and right, is better, higher, and more pleasing in the
sight of God. It gives also, together with that discernment, a certain
promptness and facility; that is, a ready will to do and to carry out into
practice that which we see to be the higher and better part.”
Here is Manning again: “Prudence commands us with an
imperial voice to obey the commandments of God and the precepts of the Church.
But the gift of counsel moves, invites, and draws the hearts to go beyond that
which is literally necessary, to do that which is called a work of
supererogation; that is , we go over and beyond that to which we are bound.” St. Charles
Borromeo’s actions provide the Cardinal
with an example for us.
Counsel is the gift which calls us to do more, and which
gives the motive to glorify God by our decisions which go beyond those of most
people. Counsel shows us the way to perfection, as one sees two goods, but one
is better, more difficult. The story of the Rich Young Man in the Scriptures is
an example of a Jewish youth keeping all the Commandments, which is a good, of
course, and necessary, but Christ called him to move beyond the good to the
perfect.
Counsel speaks to the heart. I find this Cardinal Manning’s
most convincing meditation on this gift.
It is worth quoting this section at length.
“The first effect of it on the heart, I will say of a man of
the world, is to turn him to God. How many times have you heard a voice in your
heart saying to you, ‘If I live on as I am now, shall I make a good end? I
desire to die the death of the just; but have I begun to live the life of the
just?” Our Lord has said, ‘Behold, I stand at the gate and knock.’ Have I yet
opened to Him?
Manning had a great love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but
I am also reminded of the famous painting of Jesus at the door. Christ knocks
at the door of the heart over and over, reminding each one of us that to follow
Him is to leave the world to whatever extent we can. Manning writes, “The voice
of counsel has been pleading with you to give up the world…And do I believe,
and can I say to myself I know the whole truth as it is in Jesus, and as it was
revealed on the day of Pentecost—every doctrine, every commandment, and every
counsel?’
Just repeating these words for my readers touches my heart
and brings me joy. But, the good
Cardinal continues to write words which bring me sorrow.
“The voice of counsel in this land of England is speaking in
a multitude of hearts conscious of their uncertainty, conscious of their
twilight, conscious of their doubts, and is saying, ‘Turn to Me while there is
still time.’”
How I would love to return to England
Manning stresses that the gift of counsel reveals the truths
of the Catholic Church to us, bringing us to the responsibility of choosing
obedience in order to be saved. But, this step into orthodoxy, as I have noted
in the perfection series, is only the
first step to becoming perfect.
And, Manning refers to the two conversions, also highlighted
in the perfection series, from the works of the saints and from
Garrigou-Lagrange.
“Every soul has two conversions: the first, to the truth and
to penance; and the second, to a higher life and to perfection; that is, it is
not enough for you to simply to know the truth, and to obey it in the things
that are necessary-you must go further…”
He reminds us that all men are called to perfection.
We must deny ourselves anything which will either lead us to
venial sins or lead others to sin.
Manning encourages parents, for example, to deny themselves “lawful
things”. This ideal, is, of course, runs contrary to materialism and
consumerism of the Western world. We
reject anything which may offend God or others.
We have free will to reject things and people and places which cause offense. Manning writes, “These are counsels; they are
not commandments; they are left o the free will of those who desire to be
perfect in God’s service.”
I wish I could have met Cardinal Manning. More than many
holy men of the 19th century, he speaks to us today.
To be continued….
