Jesus: The Foundation of Our Perseverance
My God … I was unfaithful in resolutions, and did not profit from the means you gave me to persevere … When I make you a promise, I do just the opposite … But your mercy … assures me that you will destroy me completely … [and] you yourself … will be my perseverance. (OOCC, X, pp. 734 - 735; STA, 533)
St. Vincent Pallotti considered perseverance a significant virtue in the life of a consecrated person. By means of this virtue he manifested his continuous faithfulness to the commitment he had made by living out its demands in the context of his everyday life. For this reason he instituted perseverance as one of the promises which the members of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate were expected to take as they entered the Society. But living out this virtue was not an easy task. St. Vincent often found himself falling back on his resolutions because he did not fully take advantage of the means God had given him to persevere in his vocation. He did make promises, but often tended to do the opposite when he faced the situation. In order to persevere in his vocation and all its demands, both personally and apostolically, St. Vincent founded himself on the perseverance of Jesus, which made him accept the plan of the Father to die on the cross and accomplished it joyfully and courageously. He prayed that Jesus would destroy his unfaithfulness and fill him with the perseverance of Jesus in order that he also, like Jesus, accepted the will of Jesus for him. Founding himself on the perseverance of Jesus, St. Vincent lived his commitment courageously, glorifying God through all he did.
How do I live the promise of perseverance on a daily basis in my life? Do I persevere in my commitment, both personally and apostolically? Is my perseverance founded on Jesus’ perseverance in his vocation?
Christ was faithful as a son placed over his house. We are his house, if [only] we hold fast to our confidence and pride in our hope. (Heb. 3: 6)