Welcome to another Fit Shepherds’ newsletter. Fr. Mark shares a great talk on what’s great (pun intended) about magnanimity from last weekend’s workout. As usual, he does a brilliant job helping us to understand what it is. In an earlier issue, I shared about magnanimity in this post if you want to refresh yourselves on this topic: https://fitshepherds.substack.com/p/you-are-called-to-greatness
Below, you will find more inspirational passages about magnanimity. Enjoy!
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Magnanimity and humility are inseparable. Magnanimity without humility is pride, and humility without magnanimity is pusillanimity. One needs a pure heart, a strong will, and a bright intellect not to break the intimate link that unites these two virtues. Magnanimity and humility go hand in hand. An important aspect of humility is to acknowledge our dignity, talents, and greatness. And when we speak of magnanimity, we must never forget to mention that our dignity, talents, and greatness are gifts from God.
— From “From Temperament to Character: On Becoming a Virtuous Leader” by Alexandre Havard
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Magnanimity is often lived — in quiet, simple ways off the radar screen of most of the world. The person who daily endeavors to be a better spouse, parent, friend, or child of God is truly seeking "greatness of soul."…
Indeed, the magnanimous person continuously strives to perfect the virtues in all areas of his life. He is not content with simply being good. He reaches out toward excellence. For example, magnanimity may impel a good man to go beyond his daily obligations and make more sacrifices in his daily life for the sake of others. He may be driven to defer to others' preferences, to endure criticism with patience, to respond gently to his child's temper tantrum, or to avoid defending his opinion in non-essential matters. These are small ways of living "greatness of soul." As such, magnanimity is sometimes called the "adornment" of all the virtues, for the magnanimous man endeavors to make his virtues greater. Or as Aquinas explains, "If his soul is endowed with great virtue, magnanimity makes him tend to perfect works of virtue."
— From a blog posting by Edward Sri called “Called to Greatness: Magnanimity”
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It’s much easier to say to God: ‘Do the work in me, and I just do nothing.' But God very often tells us: ‘I will not do it because I have already given you talents through nature; you have to discover those things and do it.' … Humility is to say: ‘I have gifts, I have talents, and they come from God.’ You recognize that you have not produced those talents, that they are a gift from Him to you. Then magnanimity is to say: ‘I have them, but I have to make them fructify, I must develop them and multiply them, and put them at the service of the community and the common good.' So you see these two things come together. [Talents] are not mine. I have been given them, and this is my humility; my magnanimity tells me to multiply them and use them.
— From an interview with Alexandre Havard
Fr. Mark on Magnanimity