October 12 — On Vain-glory

Consider, first, that the vice of vain-lory is nearly allied to that of pride, and has for its object an imaginary excdUme in rtki way of glory; that is, in the way of being known and talked of, praised and esteemed by others. See here, my soul, a dangerous vice; not only with regard to the children of the world, whose thoughts, words and actions, are generally influenced by the love of praise, honour and esteem, or by the fear of what the world will s, or think of them; but even with regard to the children of God, who are daily and hourly exposed to its temptations, in the very best of their actions; with the danger of their losing all the fruit of them, and of their being quite vitiated and corrupted by this plague. This was the vice of the scribes and Pharisees, who did all their works that they might be honoured and esteemed by men; and therefore their alms, their fasting, their prayers, and other good works, availed them nothing in the sight of God; because vain-glory corrupted them all, and, at the very time that they were esteemed as saints by the world, made them like devils in the eyes of God. Christians, beware of this pernicious evil: watch and pray continually against it.

Consider, secondly, that vain-glory which is always dangerous, amounts to the guilt of mortal sin, whenever the affection of the heart is so far set upon human applause, praise or esteem, as to love it as much or more than God; or, as St. Thomas of Aquin expresses it, when a person directs his intention in such manner to the glory of man, as to make it his last end, to which he refers even the works of virtue, and for the sake of which he does not stick to offend his God. In like manner, it is a mortal sin, when a person seeks vain-glory, by committing mortal sin; for example, by swearing, quarrelling, taking revenge, &/C. to show his courage, or to gain the esteem of being a man of honour; or for fear of being blamed, or despised by the world; — as also when any person, for the sake of maintaining his esteem, or for fear of being thought less skilful, or less knowing, refuses to seek, or admit of the assistance or counsel of others; and thus exposes himself to the danger of occasioning some considerable detriment, corporal or spiritual, to himself or to others. In fine, vain-glory is a mortal sin whenever a man glories in the gifts and graces of God, as if they were his own, and as if he had not received them from God. See, my soul, how many ways this love of worldly honour, glory and praise, which modern world-- Lings, like the ancient pagans, take for a virtue, is condemned by sound Christian morality, as a capital vice, which sends innumerable souls to hell.

Consider, thirdly, the malignity of this vice of vain-glory from its being the fruitful parent of a numerous offspring of other pernicious evils, oftentimes worse than itself. St. Gregory reckons up seven daughters of this unhappy mother. 1. Di$o» hedience, which despises the ordinances of lawful superiors, for the love of one’s own worldly honour or esteem. 2. Boasting, that is, vaunting, or glorying of one’s self, of one’s own talents, or performances, and ever loving to be talking of one’s self — a vice as odious and ridiculous, as it is common in the conversation of the proud and vain-glorious. 3. Hypocrisy or making a show of godliness or sanctity, to gain the esteem of men. 4. Contention or strife, that is, wrangling, brawling and quarrelling in words, to maintain one’s own opinion, right or wrong, or to defend what one has said or done. 5. Obstinacy, in adhering to error, rather than to acknowledge one’s self to have beer deceived, or to seem to yield, or to be overcome. 6. Discord or disagreement of wills and hearts, by occasion of different pretensions, and contests for honour and esteem. 7. Invention of novelties, in the way of new opinions, new fashions, or other Innovations, brought in to make one’s self a name, or to procure esteem or applause. See, Christians, what a train of evils are daily produced by vain-glory. And what are all heresies and schisms but a compound of these same evils, and consequently the productions also of vain-glory?

Conclude to keep a strict guard against this dangerous enemy of the soul, or it will rob thee of all good, and fill thee with aU evil. Daily pray with the royal prophet. Turn away my eyes, O Lord, that they look not upon vanity; and as often as, in thy words or actions, thou findest thyself attacked with the sugge»' tions of this vice, say with the same prophet, not to us, O Lord, not to us but to thy name give glory.