Living In The World

Sobrie et pie et juste vivamus in hoc saeculo. Sobrie nobis, juste proximo, pie Deo. Sobrie in duobus, in cavenda voluptate carnis, et curiositate saeculi. Unde Dominus: Attendite, ne graventur corda vestra in crapula et ebrietate, et curis hujus vitae. Ecce compedes quae crapulam, id est, carnis curam stringunt et angustant, et carcer qui curiositates saeculi claudit et obfirmat. Qui primum vincit, in carne ambulans non secundum carnem militat; qui secundum vincit, dicere potest: Conversatio nostra in caelis est. Juste item in duobus, ut nemini noceas, omnibus prodesse velis. Unde quod tibi non vis, alii non facias; et quaecunque vultis ut faciant vobis homines, eadem facite illis. Pie quantum ad fidem, quae in duobus consistit: in justificatione quae in praesenti nos justificat, et in beatificatione qua in futuro nos beatificat. Hanc fidem a nobis exigit Deus, ut credamus nos ab ipso justificandos per misericordiam, beatificandos per veritatem. Promisit enim justos beatificare. Unde quos justificabit hos et glorificabit. Et Dominus: Si terrena dixi vobis et non creditis, quomodo si coelestia vobis dixero credetis? Terrena justificatio fit in praesentia, coelestis beatificatio in futuro. Sobrie ergo vivamus, ut bonam conscientiam habeamus; juste, ut proximis prodesse possimus. Unde sapientia quae desursum est, primum pudica est, deinde pacifica, pie ut Deum diligamus; Hugo De Sancte Victore, Miscellanea, Liber V, Tit XXXII, Quomodo sobrie, pie et juste vivamus Source: Migne PL 177.763c-d

Let us live soberly and piously and righteously in this world. 1 Soberly for ourselves, righteously for our neighbour, piously for God. Sobriety is twofold, in wariness for the pleasure of the flesh and worldly cares. Hence the Lord says, 'Beware lest your hearts grow heavy with drinking and drunkenness and the cares of this life.' 2 Behold, you shackle yourself with drunkenness, that is, you bind and chain yourself with care for the flesh, and with your interest in the world you shut yourself up in prison and lock the door. He who obtains the first victory, walks in the flesh and does not fight with the arms of the flesh. 3 He who obtains the second victory is able to say 'Our way of life is in heaven.' 4 Living righteously is twofold, that you do not harm anyone and you wish to benefit everyone. Hence it was said, 'What you would not wish for yourself, do not do that to another.' And,  'Whatever you wish that men do to you, do the same to them.' 5 Living piously is a matter of faith, which consists of two things, the justification which justifies us in the present, and the beatification with which He shall bless us in the future. God exhorts this faith from us, so that we might believe we are justified by Him through mercy, and blessed through truth. For He promises to bless the righteous. Hence, 'He shall justify and bless them.' 6 And the Lord says, 'If I tell you about worldly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe when I speak to you about heavenly things?' 7 Worldly justification is in the present, heavenly beatification is in the future. Therefore let us live soberly so that we might have a good conscience, and righteously so that we may be able to be of benefit to our neighbours. Hence that wisdom from above is first modest, and then peaceful, so that we may love God piously. 8 Hugh Of Saint Victor, Miscellanea, Book 5, Chapter 32, How we should live soberly and piously and righteously 1 Titus 2.12 2 Lk 21.3 3 Ephes 6.12 4 Phil 3.20 5 Tobit 4.16 Mt 7.12 6 Rom 8.30 7 Jn 3.12 8 Jam 3.17