This year, as a school family, we are bringing focus to the virtues. Stemming from the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, we name two virtues each month to discover and strive to live out. Additionally, we learn about a saint who embodies those particular virtues.

For the month of October, the virtues are Respect and Foresight. On October 16, we celebrate Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, who demonstrated these two virtues. Margaret Mary was born at Terreau in Burgundy, on July 22, 1647. During her infancy she showed a wonderfully sensitive horror of the very idea of sin. In 1671 she entered the Order of the Visitation, at Paray-le-Monial, and was professed the following year. After purifying her by many trials, Jesus appeared to her in numerous visions, displaying to her His Sacred Heart, sometimes burning as a furnace, and sometimes torn and bleeding on account of the coldness and sins of men.

In 1675 the great revelation was made to her that she, in union with Father de la Colombière, of the Society of Jesus, was to be the chief instrument for instituting the feast of the Sacred Heart, and for spreading that devotion throughout the world. She died on October 17, 1690.

Please talk with your children about how they can live the virtues of Respect and Foresight. Respect is a habit that is central to human happiness. The core meaning of the word “respect” is to give something or someone particular attention and consideration. To respect someone means you recognize that he or she is important and deserves to be treated well. Like each of us, that person has a mind and human feelings.

Foresight for students means not only preparing for a career through a good education but also gathering wisdom to live well and to enjoy an abundant life. Thinking must always precede acting; otherwise, a person acts foolishly or imprudently without weighing the effects or reactions beforehand. Without foresight—an intelligent plan of action to achieve a goal—no one progresses toward a destination. Nothing learned—no matter the subject matter, book, or class—is ever wasted. Whatever a person learns in science, social studies, religion, or English, he will use in one capacity of another. Not to learn is to show no foresight. If not in his own profession, then in his own personal life a person will be glad he knows, glad he can teach others, glad to possess an informed mind capable of making intelligent decisions.

At the end of the month, we will recognize a student from each class who has demonstrated these virtues. As St. George of Nyssa said, "The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God, " and at SPCCS we embrace the virtues and strive to live this virtuous life.