True Purposes of Study
[A person must] … study for the glory of God and the advantage of souls, and to correspond to grace. (OOCC, X, p. 535; STA, 91)
Among the things that enrich a person, the most significant is the study. It implies not only the formal learning, but also learning from various life- experiences and acquiring the practical wisdom that guides one to live a good, honorable and other-centred life. One begins such an endeavor from his cradle and continues until he goes to the grave. St. Vincent Pallotti considered study as something very important in the life of a person. He himself had always been a learner. He lived to learn, in the process learning to live every situation God has placed him in. Besides being a learner in the general sense, he was also a great academician. He had obtained his Doctorates in both Philosophy and Theology. He served as a professor at the Sapienza University. That which motivated him constantly to be a learner and an academician were the goals of the glory of God, the advantage of the people whom he served, and correspondence to the grace of God. St. Vincent never looked upon study as something that brought him personal prestige and honor. He wanted to enrich himself with what he studied and learned and then use his learning to serve others, thereby glorifying God, the author of his life. Similarly, learning helped St. Vincent to know God and love God more, in the process helping him to correspond to the grace of God in the best way possible.
Do I recognize the importance and value of study in my life? Do I take the trouble to enrich myself by my learning? Do I consider my academic achievements as a matter of personal prestige? Do I study to bring glory to God, and happiness to others? Does my learning help me to know and love God and correspond to his Grace?
I want those already wise to become the wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth. How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! (Prov.1: 5-9)