What are the Maxims of Perfection?
In reviewing all of my blog entries since I began writing the blog in 2017, I noticed I had not written one on our SSJ Maxims of Perfection, or as they are also known, the 100 Maxims of the Little Institute. This month I will introduce them to you.
In 1650 in Le Puy, France when the Sisters of Saint Joseph were founded by the French Jesuit Father Jean-Pierre Medaille, he wrote a simple summary of their spirituality in 100 short wise sayings, or “maxims.” These were popular back then as they were easy to memorize and many people did not read or write, including most of our original Sisters of St. Joseph.
When you were growing up, I am sure there were certain sayings that you heard from your parents or grandparents, such as “The early bird gets the worm” or “ Waste not, want not,” or “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” One of the shortest Maxims is #52, “Interpret all things from the best possible point of view.”
The archaic language of the Maxims makes them hard for 21st century folks to understand or appreciate. All of the talk about stripping self of self is difficult to take unless one understands that in Medaille’s time it was stripping oneself of the false self, the selfish self, in order to reach union with God.
Until the end of the 17th century, says Sister Dolores Clerico, SSJ of Chesnut Hill, PA, self-emptying practices were to create space for God for mystical union. The Maxims were not meant to be read by persons who have not already arrived at a healthy sense of who they are, and are sure of their identity as loved by God. In other words, they require a mature spirituality.
On our Congregation’s website the Maxims of Perfection are posted under Spiritual Renewal and divided into the following sections: 1-11 – Spirituality; 12-43 – Relationship with God; 44-61- Relationship with Others; and 62-100 – Relationship with Self. The website also provides Scriptural roots and reflection questions for each Maxim.
The Maxims are all about growing in virtues, in seeking “the more.” Since Fr. Medaille was a Jesuit, one reads often the words “glory of God” or “God’s glory” throughout which reflects St. Ignatius of Loyola’s spirituality, who founded the Jesuits. However, the Maxims are also moderated by the gentleness, peace and joy of St. Francis de Sales who was quite popular in France.
Among the virtues stressed in the Maxims are humility, love of God, obedience and fidelity to grace, charity toward the neighbor, and the good use of time. Also mentioned are purity of heart, patience, peace, gentleness, zeal, hope, simplicity and abandonment to God’s will.
