The Virtue of Encouragement
Main idea:
Encouragement is a divine and ecclesial virtue. We must encourage the fainthearted, the weak, and the broken instead of despising or neglecting them. Encouragement provides hope and gives the person time to submit to God’s work and leave their sins.
Spiritual and educational dimension:
Christ came to preach to the poor, to find the lost, and to restore the castaways. The Holy Scripture and the prophets affirm that God stands with the poor and grants them renewal and healing: a new heart and a new spirit. The Church is called to apply this spirit with mercy and patience, especially in confession and spiritual care.
Practical advice:
Do not make anyone lose hope, nor discourage their zeal. A simple encouraging word may save a soul from death. Be patient with the weak, extend to them a helping hand, and do not demand harshness from them unless the situation requires it. Give a chance as one gives a tired tree another year’s opportunity.
Biblical and historical examples:
The examples show God’s work with the weak: Moses who was encouraged, Mary Magdalene who was freed, Zacchaeus who was guided, and the tree that was not cut because there was still a grape. These stories prove that God works in weak hearts and transforms them.
Conclusion:
Encouragement is a salvific work; it is practical love that returns souls to Christ. We as Church and individuals must practice mercy, patience, and the encouraging word so that God’s work in souls may be completed.
Encouragement
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