In the Catholic Church simplicity is considered a virtue. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a virtue as “an habitual and firm disposition to do the good”. It explains that possessing a virtue allows a person to give of their best and “perform good acts”. According to the Catechism the virtuous person “tends toward the good” with all their “sensory and spiritual powers” and “pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions.”. 1
As my faith deepened I was led to explore the virtue of simplicity. In 2011 I felt a call from God to grow deeper in the Christian life and to learn how to live my Catholic faith with more missionary intent. This led me to complete the Emmanuel School of Mission in Rome in 2011-12, which was made possible through the great generosity of my sponsors at home. During that year I had the privilege of living in a close knit community with 19 other students from 12 different countries, and this experience, grounded in simplicity and enriched by authentic formation in the Catholic faith, helped me to grow so much as a person.
Of course it is not easy to live a virtuous life or to be grounded in simplicity. Catholics rely on prayer and reception of the sacraments, in order to restrain the temptations which every human being faces. Sometimes we are also subject to struggles in life, which can be heavy crosses, that may even lead us to question or even doubt our faith, but ultimately, in my experience, trusting in God and surrendering my hopes and dreams to him, brings about consolation, healing and interior peace.
Simplicity is a worthy characteristic to possess, even for a person who does not believe in God, or who does not have faith. I think this was brought home to many people during the Covid pandemic, when everything suddenly became uncertain and unclear, and we could literally just take one day at a time. In the busyness of the world in which we live, I believe there is a greater need for stillness and simplicity. It can help us to relax and unwind, connect with God, and ultimately to become better versions of ourselves.
In my personal experience of striving to live the Christian life, I have found that there are many ups and downs. I struggle with many interior battles amidst the busy of life and even during my regular working day I always find the need to retreat to the simplicity of nature to allow myself some moments of peace. It is there that I can be still, notice the beauty of fresh colours and new growth, and listen to the sounds around me. This helps me to converse with God, and more often than now I realise that there are many blessings in my life, and I should be grateful for them.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church: Section One Man’s Vocation Life, In The Spirit, Chapter One The Dignity Of The Human Person, Article 7 The Virtues.
cf. https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_one/chapter_one/article_7.html ↩︎
