Simplicity: Seeking God Alone
[By simplicity a person] seeks God and his glory always and in all things … The person practicing simplicity flies immediately to God without clinging to anything other than God or without succumbing to temptations of human respect. (OOCC, XIII, pp. 171 - 172)
According to St. Vincent Pallotti, the virtue of simplicity helps a person to rest secure in God. Since a person finds God as his security, there is nothing that disturbs his inner peace and tranquillity. Whatever troubles assail a person, whatever the hardships he faces, and whatever the obstacles he encounters, he stands firm for he is founded on God, his protector. Therefore, by the practice of this virtue, a person is able to seek God and his glory always unhindered. This virtue enables a person to do all things for the glorification of God. Thus simplicity consists of seeking God alone. As the heart of the person who practices this virtue is centered on God, he is not attached to anything earthly. Nothing distracts his mind from its focus on God. Having fixed his mind on God, the sole motive of his actions is love of God. Neither human respect nor his personal interests prevent him from choosing God. The practice of simplicity gives a person complete inner freedom to do whatever he does. With this inner freedom, a person of simplicity seeks God and finds him without any form of hindrance.
How do I practice the virtue of simplicity in my life? Do I find my security in God? Does my attitude of simplicity help me to seek God and his glory? Is my mind focused on God? Does the practice of simplicity give me the inner freedom to choose God? What is the motive of my actions?
So long as I still have life in me and the breath of God is in my nostrils, my lips shall not speak falsehood, nor my tongue utter deceit. (Ps. 27: 3 – 4)