Qualities of Spiritual Infancy

        The virtues of spiritual childhood are ingenuity, candor, simplicity of a dove, gentleness, modesty, and the practice of all these virtues regulated by Christian prudence.         (OOCC, II, pp. 20 - 21)

According to St. Vincent Pallotti, there are a number of virtues that flow from the virtue of spiritual childhood. They are ingenuity, candor, simplicity, gentleness, modesty, and all the virtues directed by Christian prudence. A person who practices the virtue of spiritual childhood possesses all these virtues. The virtue of ingenuity makes a person skillful in offering himself to God. An ingenious person always finds ways and means to make the best gift of himself to God. The virtue of candor makes a person sincere, frank, open and honest in his attitude towards God. The virtue of simplicity facilitates a person to seek God and his glory in everything he does. It implies forgetfulness of self and seeking God alone. The virtue of gentleness makes a person delicate in his dealings, tender in his love, and sensitive in his responding to God. The virtue of modesty helps a person to restrain his tendencies and passions, and keep himself ready for God in purity of heart, mind and body. The virtue of prudence and virtues associated with it give a sense of balance and moderation in the practice of all the above virtues. In this manner, the attitude of spiritual childhood destroys all forms of selfishness in a person and makes him completely transformed, so that he stands in total availability to God and his fellow men.

Am I ingenious in the way I offer myself to God? Am I sincere as I stand before the presence of God? Am I gentle in my attitude towards God? Do I offer myself to God in purity of heart, mind, and body? Am I available to God and to my neighbor?

        If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another. (Gal. 5: 25 – 26)