Mastering Prudence

When I converted to Catholicism, I learned I had a choice in how my life was going to play out in a few ways I hadn't understood before. First of all, being raised Protestant, the idea of "vocations" was brand new. I had always longed to become a wife and mother, but suddenly I had to discern whether that longing was something to be pursued or if it was to be sacrificed. Secondly, I got to learn how to submit to authority. I had been fairly strong headed growing up, and there was definitely a level of rebelling against authority figures that I developed. In the midst of yielding to the Church, I learned about prudence and its imperative role in our development to sainthood.

Being termed a "prude" by today's standard has a very negative association, but, in reality, to be prudent means to maintain and govern yourself. Prudence is the underlying virtue to all virtues, just as pride is the underlying vice to all vices. Without the ability to control our actions, we lose any ability to be loving, patient, kind, gentle, etc. Just as by thinking we are the best thing since sliced bread, we are more likely to succumb to anger, greed, over-indulgence, etc.

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"Prudence is the underlying virtue

to all virtues, just as pride is the underlying vice to all vices."

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I was confirmed into the Church on March 31, 2013, and on April 11, 2013 I had "Prudence" added to my existing tattoo. (I already had "patience, persistence, perfection," the phoenix and "persevere" for their own commitments dealing with alcohol and marijuana. You can learn their history here.) With "Prudence," I had three new commitments. 1) No smoking or recreational drugs, 2) No fornication, and 3) No alcohol except red wine (for the blood of Christ) for the rest of my life.

I remember when I had gotten "persevere" added to my arm, my brother told me that I shouldn't get something permanent like a tattoo when committing to something in case life changes. While I had taken offense to his advice at the time, and as much as it pains me to say, he did end up being right. While I was unable to maintain my commitments of no fornication or no smoking/recreational drugs, I have still maintained adherence to no alcohol except red wine.

After making my mistakes, I ended up adding the semi-colons and compass to my arm to remind myself that even if I mess up and take a wrong turn, life goes on. Mastering prudence is a lifelong process. There can be two steps forward and one step back, or maybe even one step forward and five steps back sometimes. Success is not a straight line, and the Devil will do his best to use our shortcomings against us. All we can do is keep our shoes on, know we are not alone in the journey and keep moving forward seeking the Lord.