Rachel Evans
In Catholic philosophy, the term 'will' is defined as the faculty of choice, classified among the appetites, and contrasted with those belonging to the sensitive or vegetative order. It is seen as a rational appetite, exercising preferential control over lower appetites. Strengthening one's will involves disciplining these appetites and desires, which can be a lengthy process. This requires conscious and consistent effort, similar to exercising a muscle. By inhibiting impulses, concentrating on long-term goals, and reinforcing higher motives, one can strengthen their willpower and increase self-command. Additionally, seeking spiritual guidance and striving for holiness through love and union with God are also ways Catholics can strengthen their will.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Will in Catholic philosophy | The faculty of choice |
| Will as an appetite | The rational appetite |
| Will as a spontaneous impulse | The preponderating force of present motive and desire |
| Will as a selective attention | The ability to detain one or more motives for a period in the focus of intellectual consciousness |
| Will as self-control | The "checking" or "policing" of one tendency by another |
| Will as an idea | An idea or ideal that becomes dynamic and triumphs over its neglected rivals |
| Will as reason | Simply reason in act, or the causality of reason |
| Will as a long process | Something that can never stop being formed |
| Will as governing the lower faculties | Discipline the appetites that want to go towards their proper object |
| Will as a muscle | Atrophies if not exercised |
| Will as a path to God | Accomplishing God's will by desiring union with God and holiness |
| Will as a path to God | Accomplishing God's will by loving God and your neighbour |
| Will as a path to God | Accomplishing God's will by seeking love, joy, and peace |
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What You'll Learn
- God's will is that we pursue holiness and union with Him
- We must discipline our appetites and govern our lower faculties
- Our will is the faculty of choice, classified as a rational appetite
- Moral freedom is strengthened by exercise and weakened by yielding to impulse
- We must constantly strive to improve our spiritual disciplines
God's will is that we pursue holiness and union with Him
The Catholic Church teaches that we are justified by faith, but that this faith must be confirmed by a life of holiness. This is not an optional extra but a necessary part of our faith. Holiness is not something we can achieve by our own merits or hard work, but only by cooperating with the grace that God provides.
To pursue holiness, we must strengthen our will. In Catholic philosophy, the will is the faculty of choice, the rational appetite that stands in relation to our lower appetites, exercising preferential control over them. Our appetites always want to go towards their proper object, the particular pleasure associated with their exercise—food, sex, rest, entertainment. To strengthen our will, we must discipline these appetites, training them to channel their power in the direction that our will, informed by reason, points them. This is a long process, and one that we can never stop doing—like a muscle, if we stop exercising our willpower, it atrophies.
We can strengthen our will through spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, but we must be careful to avoid just going through the motions. We should seek advice and tips from a spiritual director to help us improve in these disciplines. We can also strengthen our will by exercising self-control, restraining impulse, and checking inclinations towards the pleasant. As we do this, we increase in self-command and freedom.
Pursuing holiness is not just an individual pursuit but is also corporate. We are called to be effective evangelists, to radiate God to others through our witness of life. This is an important part of our call to holiness and one that we cannot neglect.
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We must discipline our appetites and govern our lower faculties
In Catholic philosophy, the term 'will' is defined as the faculty of choice, classified among the appetites. It stands in a preferential control relationship with the complex of lower appetites, such as food, sex, rest, and entertainment. These lower appetites or desires always want to go toward their proper object, the particular pleasure associated with their exercise.
To strengthen one's will, it is necessary to discipline these appetites and govern our lower faculties. This involves directing them toward a chosen path or goal, which requires time and conscious effort. It is a continuous process, and one must constantly strive to improve. Seeking guidance from a spiritual director can be helpful.
The strengthening of the will is akin to exercising a muscle. If one does not consciously exercise their willpower, it weakens. It is important to remember that progress may be slow, and setbacks may occur, but with perseverance and God's help, one can glorify God and build Christ's kingdom.
The concept of 'appetites' is further divided into concupiscible and irascible appetites. Concupiscible appetites incline a person to seek a sensible good and flee injury, while irascible appetites incite a person to resist obstacles and obtain a difficult good. Both types of appetites play a role in our motivations and actions, and understanding them can help in the pursuit of spiritual maturity.
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Our will is the faculty of choice, classified as a rational appetite
In Catholic philosophy, the term 'will' is defined as the faculty of choice and is classified as a rational appetite. It involves exercising preferential control over lower appetites, which are associated with the pleasures of food, sex, rest, and entertainment.
The will, as a rational appetite, is guided by reason and the light of reason. It involves selecting the good (bonum in communi) from among various conflicting aims and tendencies within our nature. This selection is a conscious process that requires reflection and the evaluation of motives and impulses. Each act of reflection strengthens voluntary attention, allowing us to actively choose and direct our actions.
The strengthening of our will is a lifelong process that requires constant exercise, similar to how a muscle needs training to stay strong. We can strengthen our will by disciplining our appetites and directing them toward virtuous goals. This involves resisting impulses, checking inclinations toward immediate pleasures, and practicing self-denial in the face of temptation.
Additionally, our will is influenced by our motives, which can be strengthened by praise, blame, rewards, and punishments. However, it is important to recognize that our ability to abstain from or perform certain actions is also a factor in determining the justice of such praise or blame.
By consciously exercising our willpower through spiritual disciplines, seeking spiritual direction, and striving to improve, we can strengthen our will and grow in holiness. This process takes time, and it is important to be patient and persistent, relying on God's help and guidance along the way.
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Moral freedom is strengthened by exercise and weakened by yielding to impulse
The Catholic Church places great emphasis on strengthening one's will to lead a holy life. According to Catholic philosophy, the term "will" refers to the faculty of choice, classified among the appetites, but distinct from the merely sensitive or vegetative order. It is seen as the rational appetite, exercising preferential control over lower appetites.
Moral freedom, a key aspect of free will, is indeed strengthened by exercise and weakened by yielding to impulse. This idea is supported by the understanding that our actions can either be driven by the first appetite that arises or involve deliberation, where multiple appetites and fears come into play. When we give in to impulse, we weaken our self-control and our ability to resist temptation. Our freedom diminishes as we become enslaved by intemperance or vice.
On the other hand, by restraining impulses, denying immediate pleasures, and striving for a virtuous life, we enhance our self-command and, consequently, our freedom. This process of strengthening the will is akin to exercising a muscle, requiring consistent effort and time. It involves disciplining our appetites and directing them towards virtuous goals, which may be a challenging and lengthy endeavour due to cultural influences that pull us in the opposite direction.
To effectively strengthen our will, we can seek spiritual guidance and strive to improve our spiritual practices. Additionally, we can focus on controlling our attention, allowing reason to triumph over impulses. This reflective comparison enables us to weigh motives and make conscious choices, strengthening our voluntary actions.
In the context of free will, it is important to note that God has granted humans the ability to make decisions. Saint Augustine's motto, "Love God and [then] do what you will," encapsulates the idea that loving God and desiring union with Him will align our will with His. Thus, exercising our moral freedom through conscious choices and strengthening our will through discipline and reflection can help us lead more virtuous and holy lives.
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We must constantly strive to improve our spiritual disciplines
Strengthening one's will is a continuous process that requires constant exercise of willpower. In Catholic philosophy, the term "will" is defined as the faculty of choice, or the "rational appetite". It is the ability to make decisions and take actions that align with one's values and goals, especially those that lead to greater holiness.
To improve spiritual disciplines and strengthen one's will, it is important to recognise that our own efforts are never enough. We must rely on God's grace and create a favourable environment for it to take root and flourish. This involves consciously exercising our willpower and disciplining our appetites and desires. Our appetites, such as those for food, sex, rest, and entertainment, often pull us in one direction, but with discipline, we can channel their power towards our will and the greater good.
It is important to avoid going through the motions and instead, strive to improve in our spiritual disciplines. Seeking guidance from a spiritual director can be beneficial. We should also be mindful that forming our will takes time and that setbacks are normal. We should not be discouraged but instead, persistently seek God's help, knowing that "with God, all things are possible".
Additionally, strengthening our will involves yielding to impulse and resisting temptation. By restraining ourselves from mere impulse and checking inclinations towards pleasure, we increase our self-command and freedom. This allows us to make choices that bring us closer to heaven and fulfill God's will.
Finally, we must remember that discernment of God's will should not be a source of anxiety. Instead, it should be approached with love, joy, and peace. We should strive to love God and our neighbours, trusting that our desire for union with God will help us accomplish His will, even amidst our failings.
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Frequently asked questions
The will is defined as the faculty of choice, or the rational appetite. It is strengthened by exercising moral freedom, self-control, and resisting impulses.
God has given humans free will and reason to make decisions. God's will is that course of action that will lead to greater holiness.
If you are angry, anxious, worried, loveless, joyless, and peaceless, you are not following God's will. God's will should be discerned in a loving, joyful, and peaceful manner.
God's will for you may be to homeschool your children, to marry a certain person, or to pursue a certain vocation.
You can strengthen your will by disciplining your appetites and desires, seeking spiritual direction, and constantly striving to improve your spiritual practices.
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