1.3.3 – Principal Virtue: Patientia – Acting Against Anger

Patientia – patience, endurance, forbearance
– WordHippo

That’s Three Different Things…

You’re right. Translations between languages are imprecise: English may have a word for something that Latin doesn’t (what would the Romans call a computer or a telephone?), and Latin has terms that English doesn’t quite capture. The same in-equality of translation exists with modern language; that’s why we sometimes borrow words and insert them as-is. Schadenfreude, for example, is often dropped into American English conversation; it’s a German word referring to the enjoyment someone gets from the misfortune of another.

I expect no less from the country of the Bundesautobahn (AKA the Autobahn).

But What Is Patientia?

It’s an amalgamation of the three words: patience, endurance, and forbearance. Let’s look at each in turn, then put them together.

What Constitutes Patience?

Patience (or forbearance) is the ability to endure difficult circumstances such as perseverance in the face of delay; tolerance of provocation without responding in annoyance/anger; or forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Patience is the level of endurance one can have before negativity. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast. Antonyms include hastiness and impetuousness.
– Wikipedia

Patience is staying the course during the wait. It looks more like I looked up perseverence than patience; I think of standing fast for patience and pressing on for perseverance, a notable difference between the two. Wiki seems to conflate them.

Wikipedia also describes it as “before negativity.” Part of patience – or at least learning to be patient – is holding on when faced with negativity. Sometimes it intermixes with us, poisoning our thoughts, yet we manage to stay the course, withholding harshness by sheer force of will. Even moreso, this is precisely what makes someone patient: confronting negativity and refusing to participate.

I want a second opinion. Let’s check out a dictionary.

Patience: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
– Oxford dictionary

Ha-ha! I feel vindicated; there’s no mention of not being effected by the negativity, just that it isn’t allowed to push one into upset.

What About Endurance?

Endurance: the ability to endure an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way; the capacity of something to last or to withstand wear and tear.
– Oxford dictionary

Something is un-fun, yet the one who endures makes it through.

This isn’t so much about a state of mind as it is standing a ground, remaining firm despite adversity.

Endurance is also used for long-haul exercises: if you can keep moving forward for an extended period of time despite the strenuous phyical and mental effort required, you have some measure of endurance. With respect to running, if you can run a marathon, you clearly have endurance; if you can run a supermarathon, you have even more endurance; if you can run from the French Quarter across the Pontchartrain Causeway and back for a Cafe au Lait, you’re superhuman. (Not the least of which for surviving the traffic; there isn’t designated pedestrian space, and I doubt its even allowed. Please do not attempt!)

And Forbearance?

Forbearance: patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.
– Oxford dictionary

Bingo! The restraint piece, the self-control component, is key. For something to be an exercise in patience, one must be tempted yet decide against the short-term want for the long-term goal.

And the Planet?

Shout out to all the space nerds: there’s a “minor planet” (a really big asteroid) named Patientia in the asteroid belt. The more you know!

Space: the final frontier!

Departing from the asteroid, back to the virtue…

Where’s Patience in the Bible?

I’m glad you asked! There are several references to patience; here are a few:

Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
– Romans 12:12

Summary

Retain peace while traversing difficult times; exercise self-control and restraint to stay at peace through the turbulence. We will face turbulence; that’s part of life; holding on to the peace of Christ is what we are called to do while navigating the storm. Hold fast, stay the course, and keep your eyes steady on the goal.