Word of the Week

Third Week of Advent: Patience

Patience: Patientem (L.): meaning “ bearing or enduring without complaint” , behind this term conveys a firm resolve “ to suffer ”

Patience is a journey in the cross and bears fruit in “works of mercy, service of neighbor, and voluntary self-denial” (CCC 1460). The Holy Spirit enables us to understand how patience endures suffering and trials of all kinds. Patience awakens our heart to what is essential verses non-essential. Patient prayer nourishes the theological virtue of hope and allows us to persevere until the end. Thus, patience and hope are linked drawing us deeper into the mystery of God (CCC 1437, 1820). In addition, it is the domestic Church where humble prayer and patient practices of virtue lead to a more profound witness to the “living memory of the Church” (CCC 1637).

Patience can be found 31 times in Sacred Scripture: 20 occurrences in the Old Testament and 11 in the New Testament. Collectively, this term in the Holy Bible is synonymous with the aforementioned definitions: ‘endurance' and ‘suffering' (Sir.1:23; 4 Mac.14:9; Rom.12:12; 2 Cor.1:6; Heb.6:15; 1 Pet.2:20; Rev.1:9, 2:2-3, 2:9, 3:10), and for that reason there is an eschatological quality to patience ; it leads us to consider all things in light of their eternal significance. This eternal significance leads us to ponder how sacrificial love patiently endures for the greater glory of God (1 Cor.13:4), and ultimately, offers us insight into how suffering is not an end in itself, rather a means to an end. Paul reminds us that unceasing prayer is the only way to achieve this deeper understanding of patience (Rom.12:12). Moreover, this prayer leads us to an increase in faith, which reproduces the life of Christ within us perfecting all things good (Jas.1:4).

Patience has a unique relationship to the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. Theological virtues are those that come from God and the virtues we are imbued with in Baptism (CCC 1812-1829). It is in light of this truth, that we can see the imperative light patienc e offers our daily walk with God. In every circumstance, patience accompanies faith in the endurance of “seeing out” the not yet seen, hope in the certainty of the God-willed outcome, and love in the willingness to persevere in the “ups and downs” of the waiting. Essentially, patience is the prism in which we see the stuff of God and the measuring stick to which we claim the seriousness of our faith.

Patience steers us towards Bethlehem as we wait with that “ancient expectation ” of the Christ Child to come into the manger of our heart. Once again, we recall the relationship between patience and hope. During the Advent season , patience and hope call us out to consider more carefully the meaning of preparing for greatness.

“Patience is the calmer face of courage that proves itself over time.”

--Donald DeMarco

Primary Texts Consulted

• Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997.

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