The Good Life: Benedict Of Nursia And Clare Of Assisi

A Pinterest search for “the good life” brings one to find the mantra of “A good life is when you smile often, dream big, laugh a lot, and realize how blessed you are for what you have”. Seems easy, huh? Unfortunately happiness portrayed in this saying does not come through repetition or belief in it but rather growth in virtue. A life of happiness, laughter and gratitude can only be found in purity of love for God. In finding the tools in living such life one can turn to Christian ethics, a branch of ethics that defines virtuous and sinful actions through a number of Christian and secular sources. Christian ethics draws upon answers through the centuries of the life long quest for the good life, including Benedict of Nursia and Francis of Assisi.

Under his direction and guidance, she founded a rule of life for women seeking to live Francis’ spirituality. Clare served and mentored the women who came to her including Agnes of Prague, who renounce her royalty for poverty. In one of her letters to Agnes, Clare writes about the great value the soul that is pure in poverty and humility, “The most worthy of God’s creations…greater than heaven, since the heavens and the rest of creation together cannot contain their Creator and only the soul of a faithful person is his dwelling place and throne” (Mueller). God within is the prized possession one should only strive to posses and God is the only non-transitory possession. The indwelling of God demands one to respect and value oneself for one is a temple of God, reflection of Christ and the revelation of the creative work of the Holy

In today’s noisy and cluttered society, people lack freedom and clear insight in their lives. Many people feel uncomfortable in silence, particularly when moment of it appears in a conversation. They fill it quickly with words like the pagans babbled in prayer thinking the many words would ensure their message was heard (ref. Mt. 6:7). Poverty and silence provide a quiet and joyful existence for it cultivates an attitude or willingness to give oneself at the service of another. What is truly important in life is easily revealed in interior and exterior silence and peace. One enters fully into life with a grateful heart and open hands in appreciating what is given but also likewise ready to let go when asked to do