I sit in the back, trying to stay inconspicuous. But of course my time comes, so I line up on the side, walk up on stage, pick a number, receive a card, and then the superior reads a saint and virtue I am supposed to work on for the year.
Every Christmas Eve, we have the tradition of doing this between our extended dinner and midnight Mass. This year I got St John Nepomucene. He’s not one of the most famous saints but he was drowned in the Vltava River in Prague on the orders of the king. Historical documents give two possible reasons: he definitely confirmed a good archbishop against the king’s wishes, and he may have been the queen’s confessor and refused to break the seal of confession. Whichever was the true reason, he is an example of the virtue of discretion.
As I was walking back to my place, one brother joked to me, “That means no more about Brioss.” Discretion, however is not silence and secrecy.
Discretion involves three parts as far as I understand it: being silent about certain things, giving due honor to God, and being restrained in expression.
In her dialogues, St Catherine of Siena says, “This virtue of discretion is no other than a true knowledge which the soul should have of herself and of [Jesus].” She goes on to point out that discretion involves giving God all the praise and becoming the least ourselves. I try to do this but I am sure I am not perfect.
On our patron card, there is usually a quote and the quote on this one deals with our final aspect: “speak with a moderate voice…” I have to admit, I enjoy talking and figure I am decent at it. Again I doubt I do this well.
I think this virtue involves some work for me but it doesn’t involve secrecy.
