Temperance and Living in the Moment – Great Lenten Retreat Week Two
Welcome to our second week of our Great Lent retreat, with temperance and living in the moment as our virtues to grow in. This is the second article in our Great Lent retreat series. So if you missed last week’s article on Humility and Justice, check it out here.
Understanding the Virtues
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” – John 8:58
Living in the Moment
What is the name of God? I Am. Not I was, not I will be, but I Am. This name of God gives us an idea of the virtue of living in the moment. It is God who holds everything in existence.
Do you ever find yourself replaying a conversation in your head, thinking of how you wish you had said things differently? I, for one, often recall a time in a university class where I didn’t do apologetic over the Eucharist justice. I wish I could go back and do a better job! But it isn’t good to dwell on the past. Maybe you have the same problem, but with worrying about tomorrows. Anxiety about what is going to happen in the future is a common problem. And it gets in the way living in the moment today. By being in the present, we focus on “just this.” What is in front of us right now, and nothing else.
When we live in the past or the future, we miss the graces and gifts God is giving to us right now. Through our baptism and confirmation, the Holy Spirit comes to live in the temple of our bodies. Or more specifically, in our souls. Do we remember the Holy Spirit is here with us? Ready to pour out His fruits and gifts within us? Let’s focus on the present moment and living virtuously. Then we will be better able to recognize the movement of God in our lives.
Temperance
Temperance is the proper ordering of ourselves to God. Our intellect and will need to be ordered towards the good, otherwise we misuse good things (like under eating, or over sleeping). Another way to describe temperance is as the virtue of moderation. Remember how Aristotle says “Virtue is the golden mean between two vices, the one of excess and the other of deficiency?” Well, then let’s think of temperance as the virtue that helps us find the balance between the two vices, between too much of a good thing, or not enough. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes temperance in paragraph 1809:
Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: “Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart.” Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: “Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites.” In the New Testament it is called “moderation” or “sobriety.” We ought “to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world.”
Self control is synonymous with temperance. Can we stop ourselves from snacking too much before a meal? Are we able to get up in the morning at the time we mean to be up by? How about when we are enjoying a moment to ourselves and suddenly our children need us. Do we respond promptly and gracefully? Or are we missing the self control needed to handle these situations well.
Temperance by the Saints
St. Polycarp (Letter to Philippians, paragraph 7)
For every one who shall not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is antichrist: and whosoever shall not confess the testimony of the Cross, is of the devil; and whosoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts and say that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the first-born of Satan. Wherefore let us forsake the vain doing of the many and their false teachings, and turn unto the word which was delivered unto us from the beginning, being sober unto prayer and constant in fastings, entreating the all-seeing God with supplications that He bring us not into temptation, according as the Lord said, The Spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.
Philiokalia Volume 1 Book 1
To eat moderately and reasonable is to keep the body in good health, not to deprive it of holiness. A clear rule for self-control handed down by the Fathers is this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satisfied.
St Faustyna’s Prayers for Being in the Present Moment
Prayer One
O My God, when I look into the future, I am frightened. But why plunge into the future? Only the present moment is precious to me, as the future may never enter my soul at all.
It is no longer in my power to change, correct or add to the past; for neither sages nor prophets could do that. And so what the past has embraced I must entrust to God.
O present moment, you belong to me, whole and entire. I desire to use you as best I can. And although I am weak and small, You grant me the grace of Your omnipotence. And so, trusting in Your mercy, I walk through life like a little child, offering You each day this heart burning with love for Your greater Glory. Amen.
Prayer Two
O Jesus, I want to live in the present moment, to live as if this were the last day of my life. I want to use every moment scrupulously
for the greater glory of God, to use every circumstance for the benefit of my soul. I want to look upon everything from the point of view that nothing happens without the will of God. God of unfathomable mercy, embrace the whole world and pour Yourself out upon us
through the merciful Heart of Jesus. Amen.
Practicing Being in The Moment
If we never forgot the presence of God, we would never sin. (In theory, anyway). Certainly, we would avoid many sins by remembering our coming judgement. Spend some time praying the Jesus prayer this week, with the intention of being in the moment and aware of what is going on in front of you. Even if that is bustling children. Focus on being in the moment, not judging how well you are praying.
Pray this prayer “God, what do you want me to do right now?” Or, “What are you calling me to do right now?” Also, this week, make the sign of the cross before you start a new activity. Pause and remember God is with us!
If you notice you are being anxious about the future, turn to God in prayer and trust. The prayer “Jesus I trust in you” might be a good one here.
Mother Angelica once said “Do whatever you must Do in the present, then Drop it, and move on.” Try to notice when it is time to drop something. If you tend to be a perfectionist, work on letting go a little. Do something until it is good enough, and then leave it aside for something that is more pressing on your time.
Let go of excess possessions. The more stuff we have, the more we have to deal with and take care of. Letting go of unnecessary possessions can free us from this burden of stuff and help us to live in the moment.
Practicing Temperance
Conquer a bad habit. This works really well with being in the moment. When you are tempted to engage in a bad habit this week (such as mindless scrolling social media) take a moment to pause. What is going on while you are feeling tempted to do this? Are you lonely? Do you fall into this bad habit at a certain time of day? Notice what is triggering the bad habit (#LivingInTheMoment) and then use the virtue of temperance to find a better way to handle the temptational trigger.
Make a meal plan and stick to it this week. Or pick a time you want to be in bed by, or awake by. Pick something good you want to do and use the virtue of temperance to stick with it for seven days! Setting a limit on how much time you want to do something also works for this one.
The Byzantine Life
If you enjoyed this week’s article, you might want to check out our Lenten Articles. Great Lent covers fasting and abstinence, saying Alleluia, Presanctified Liturgy, and ways to actively participate in Great Lent with your family. W also have an article about Holy Week: A Guide to What Happens During Holy Week.
Great Lent Virtues Retreat Schedule
(links will only work after publishing day, the Thursday prior to that week of Great Lent)
28 February – Week One – Humility and Justice – https://thebyzantinelife.com/great-lent-humility-justice/
7 March – Week Two – Living in the Moment and Temperance – https://thebyzantinelife.com/great-lent-temperance/
14 March – Week Three – Fortitude: Patience + Perseverance – https://thebyzantinelife.com/great-lent-fortitude/
21 March – Week Four – Diligence + Prudence – https://thebyzantinelife.com/great-lent-diligence-prudence/
28 March Week Five – Faith – https://thebyzantinelife.com/great-lent-faith/
4 April – Week Six – Hope – https://thebyzantinelife.com/great-lent-hope/
11 April – Week Seven – Love and Charity – https://thebyzantinelife.com/great-lent-love/
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