12 November, Antonio, Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day

Daily Progress

1. Every day of our lives should be a further step towards perfection. Holiness should be our goal in life. If we set before ourselves any illusory targets at which to aim, we are making a serious mistake and shall have cause in the end to appreciate the truth of the prophet's warning: “You have sowed much and brought in little.” (Agg. 1:6) Jesus Christ, moreover, has given us this commandment: “You are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt. 5:48)

The ideal is high, certainly, and it is impossible for human resources, but Jesus assures us that nothing is impossible with God. (Cf. Luke 18:27) We can do nothing without God's help, but with His grace we can do everything. “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

Naturally, we cannot hope to accomplish everything in one day. We should desire to reach the highest possible level of perfection and ought not to be discouraged by the many difficulties which we are sure to encounter on the way. But it would be presumptuous to expect to achieve perfection in a single moment.

The road to sanctity is long and arduous. It is essential to stride this path resolutely and with complete confidence in God. We should go forward with enthusiasm, not depending on our own poor resources, but on divine grace.

This is a matter of life and death, and here we speak of eternal life. If we cease to advance and fall into indolence and inactivity, God will leave us to ourselves and we shall be lost. A man who is not advancing in the spiritual life must lose ground sooner or later, because he is not obeying the command of Jesus Christ.

2. There are two ways in which we should make constant daily progress. The first is in the removal of our defects and imperfections. As “The Imitation of Christ” insists, we should soon become holy if we were to conquer at least one sin every year. It is opportune at this stage to ask ourselves how many years we have already spent on earth. During these years how many personal defects can we claim to have remedied? Perhaps there was a time when we were better than we are now. If we have wasted time and have abused our Creator's gifts and favours, we should humble ourselves and do penance before God.

Finally, we should resolve to do our best to remedy at least one defect every day. We should select first of all whatever imperfection we know to be the most dangerous. This will be difficult and even heroic work, but it is very necessary. We must work on our own character as a sculptor works on a block of marble, hammering, cutting, and chiselling patiently and perseveringly. With the help of God we shall be successful. Even as the Saints succeeded, so we shall succeed if we depend on God's grace and make the necessary sacrifices.

3. The second way in which we should make daily spiritual progress is by adorning our soul with virtues. When we have cleansed our soul of the scars of sin, there still remains the positive task of adorning it with Christian virtues. We should begin by acquiring the virtue of humility, which is the foundation of the entire spiritual life. One can never be too humble. It is difficult to become humble and it involves lifelong renunciation and sacrifice.

Once we have acquired this virtue, however, the sunshine and dew of divine grace cause others to spring up beside it. It will be easier then to advance day by day nearer to perfection.