"Demand Justice"
Fauci, ICE etc.
Calls for justice on the internet tend to be unreasonable and politically motivated. But in reality, even in our real lives, what justice actually IS seems to be severely misunderstood.
I have plenty of thoughts to share on the Fauci trial, and I’m trying to decide if they are worthwhile enough for anyone to read. Until then, I know this is long and frankly, not the most exciting reading. But St. Albert explains what true justice is in the book Paradise of the Soul, and I think we could all benefit from this explanation more than my rambling about a corrupt politician ;)
JUSTICE
True and perfect justice consists in paying to God due praise for the splendor and glory of His divine nature. This includes giving to Him both fitting gratitude for all the good gifts which He bestows upon us, but also giving Him praise and glory for whatever sufferings we are called to undergo, according to the mysteries of His divine plan. It includes making due satisfaction for all our sins and shortcomings, either through what we do or what we fail to do, and also fervent and heart-felt sorrow for all the graces and gifts which we have neglected.
True justice in our relationship to God includes complete and unwavering fidelity to Him, including careful observance of all His commandments and all the obligations of our vows or religious commitments. It means undertaking all of one’s duties with singular diligence, as if our whole salvation depended entirely upon each one of these duties, in a particular sense. Furthermore, to make our works pure expressions of our gratitude towards God, they should be done purely out of service to Him, and not to gain any human favor or approval. And all gifts from God should be received gratefully, and in such a way that they are used and enjoyed according to the ordering and purpose which God has assigned them.
TWO ASPECTS OF JUSTICE
Justice towards our neighbors has two aspects.
The first aspect is never to do to one’s neighbor what one would not want done to oneself. That includes never deliberately hurting or offending him by word, or action, or sign, or by plotting against him, never suspecting him of evil, never detracting from his reputation or disparaging him behind his back, and never trying to impede him from achieving any good thing. For there is no one who would justly wish such things to be done to himself, and therefore no one ought to do them to his neighbor.
The second aspect of justice to one’s neighbor is to do for him what one would justly wish to be done for oneself. This includes treating him with due respect and courtesy and not thinking evil of him, rejoicing with him when he rejoices and sympathizing when he suffers, to assume his innocence, and to defend him from attacks when he is absent. For everyone would naturally and justly wish such things to be done for them, and therefore ought to do them for others.
Here, it must be emphasized that these two principles extend only to things which are in accordance with what is lawful and right. For example, a judge obviously would not wish to be sent to prison himself, but that does not mean that he ought not to sentence convicted criminals to prison—for that is required of him by law and his own official and legitimate duties. Or a violent man may actually wish other people to challenge him to a fight, but that does not mean he should challenge others to fights—for, again, that would not be in accordance with what is right and lawful.
Justice towards the dead consists in observing and fulfilling any legitimate and reasonable intentions that they express in their will or last testament, and also offering prayers, fasting, and almsgiving for their souls. According to Saint Bernard, “The sufferings of those who are in purgatory are relieved or shortened by means of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.”
Justice towards the holy angels, and in particular towards one’s guardian angel, includes following their counsels and guidance without hesitation and rendering them due praise and thanks for the many diligent services they bestow upon us.
We ought to be encouraged in the cultivation of justice by the verse of the psalm of David: “The Lord is just, and He loves just ways.” Again, the just person is promised the rewards of joy and hope, according to the verse, “The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall find their hopes in Him.” The just person is also promised exultation and praise, as expressed in another psalm, “Exult in the Lord, O you just! For praise befits the righteous.” Finally, those who practice justice are promised eternal life itself, according to the verse, “The just shall live forever.” And, indeed, all the good things which are promised in Scripture are to be gained through the diligent cultivation of justice in every matter of life.
The function of the virtue of justice is to make all our thoughts and feelings rightly and properly ordered, and always in harmony with the will of God, so that our will conforms with the divine will, and our intentions are always directed towards the greater glory of God. Similarly, this virtue, when fully cultivated, causes all our words and actions to be directed towards an authentically just purpose, reflecting God’s plan. Where this is the case, it is clear proof that the virtue of justice flourishes within a person’s soul.
But a sign of counterfeit or false justice is when a person usurps for himself things which properly belong to God alone, or usurps for himself things which belong properly to his neighbor. For example, the right to judge and to punish other human beings is the prerogative of God for a private individual to do this is thus to usurp something which pertains to God [or the legitimate institutions of Church and state] alone. And a neighbor’s property and reputation belong to him and are his concern—to attempt to take them away from him is to usurp something properly belonging to someone else. As a warning and admonition against such false justice [which is the same as injustice], we read in the psalm,“O my God, direct my steps, so that injustice may never rule me!’
Excerpt from the greatest book on virtue I’ve ever read: Paradise of the Soul by St. Albert the Great