“Patience reflects trust in God’s timing and grace in dealing with others.”
One of the more difficult things for most of us to practice in our daily lives is patience. The common phrase “to practice patience” tells us that it is not something that comes easily or perhaps naturally, but rather something we need to be continually working on. When we think of having patience, it is most often in terms of having patience with others: children, spouses, co-workers, or those providing us with customer service. It may be struggling impatiently when experiencing a slow physical healing from an injury or illness. We struggle with having patience with ourselves and others with whom we have diametrically opposing views and beliefs on essential matters of faith, morals, or politics.
We have all heard the common phrase “patience is a virtue”. Patience is a part of the virtue of fortitude and one of the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Catechism informs us that “the fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory.” (CC 1832). From this, we begin to understand and consider the “longer view” of patience. In James 5:7-8, we read, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient.” A biblical commentary on this verse notes, “patience needs the quality of long suffering to put up with affliction until the Lord can exercise judgment.” When we stop to reflect on God’s infinite patience with us, it can inspire us to extend this grace to others.
When we practice patience in dealing with everyday challenges, we are transforming what could be considered resignation into an act of charity. Instead of focusing on our frustrations and struggles, we can, through patience and Christian charity, consider the life challenges the person in front of us may be struggling with.
“While patience may seem to be a less important moral quality, it is in fact quite valuable for the life of charity. The presence of this virtue does a great deal to enhance a person’s ability to act in accord with charity, for many of the everyday sins against charity derive from a lack of patience.” (1)
Finding in our hearts the desire to forgive others for their serious trespasses against us is a common experience. When we ask the Father to forgive us our trespasses, we know we must forgive others, and yet so often we put it off because we don’t feel ready to do so, causing us inner turmoil and stress. This may be where we need to seek greater patience with ourselves, praying that the fruits of the Holy Spirit will guide us in patience, “trusting in God’s timing and grace in dealing with others”. The Catechism (1830) states, “The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit”.
Pope Francis preached on the virtue of patience in an address during Holy Week 2024 stating:
“Patience is more than a value that helps one lead a good life, it is a counter-cultural Christian calling. Let us not forget that haste and impatience are enemies of spiritual life. God is love, and he who loves does not tire, he is not irritable, he does not give ultimatums; God is patient, God knows how to wait.”
Jim Rundell – SFA Theologian Guild Member
(1) OSV Catholic Encyclopedia