11/28/2021

Many thanks to all of you who are praying for my return, for your prayers and support and wishes that my good health returns. I truly appreciate your kindness and support.
This Sunday we begin Year C with the First Sunday of Advent. Year C features the Gospel of Luke. It is the longest gospel, it is the only gospel attributed to a Gentile author who was also a physician, and it has some unique stories: The Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son, the Rich Man and Lazarus, and the Road to Immaus. Luke features Mary in the Annunciation, Visitation, Presentation, and Finding in the Temple. It is as well the gospel of women: Elizabeth, Mary, Anna, Sinful Woman, Widow of Nain, Mary and Martha, and women in parables. We will see the themes of salvation of the Gentiles, the activity of the Holy Spirit, the role of the poor. We will also see how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament scriptures.
Back to the eight “Deadly Thoughts.” After those related to the body (gluttony, greed, lust), the two concerned with the mind (anger, sadness), the next two concern demons of the soul which are spiritual in nature and so harder to detect: vanity and pride. Today we concern ourselves with vanity or vainglory. In Latin vanagloria literally means “empty reputation.” It consists of the admiration of one’s own achievements, skills, looks, and/or qualities. It often arises because one has achieved virtue, then becomes vain on account of that accomplishment. For example, one might work hard to conquer the vice of gluttony, then having succeeded, the success (and a svelt body?) becomes the source of vanity – one is proud of one’s self-control. In fact one of the ancient writers says, “where virtue abounds, vanity is always a danger.” So it is subtle and not readily apparent to the one who is vain.
One attitude which indicates vanity is complacency about our skills and qualities - one can become content with what one has achieved and who one is. One may even become narcissistic with self-admiration, seeking praise for acquired virtue. The attitude is held by the vain person regardless of what others think. Vanity desires praise. Sometimes children will say that they want to grow up to be “famous.” When asked, “Famous for what?” they will respond, “Just famous.” This fame without substance appears to be akin to the literal definition of vanagloria as “empty reputation.” The odd thing is that people may see this life as desirable, even though empty! For example, one who embraces the life goal of “feeling good and not harming others” may end up eventually chasing after money in order to find happiness. When greed does not yield happiness, then they try food, and so on. The paradox for the desert fathers is clear: people end up trying to fill the void or emptiness in their lives by pursuing the other “Deadly Sins,” which are also empty.
Another problem with vanity is that it makes it impossible for one to admit that to be human is to be vulnerable, to be human is to admit that “something is missing.” When one is so full of oneself, it stops the natural flow of love from one human to another, even from God to humans. The vain person cannot see beyond his/her own self to see others and their situations. Curiously, some desert fathers discouraged monks from becoming priests because vanity is a danger to those who preach.
The opposite of vanity is magnanimity, or largeness of heart. A magnanimous person takes delight in the accomplishments of others. So the antidote to “empty glory” is “generosity of the soul” which allows one to affirm the true value of both self and of others without focusing on special claims for oneself. This generosity of soul is epitomized by Mary in her Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid. For behold henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Mary recognizes her lowliness and the greatness of God, attributing the heights to which she is called to God’s grace. It ultimately comes down to finding greatness in God’s grace, not self.
May we be open to God’s grace this Advent!

Father Albert, O.S.B.