Fr. Prümmer wrote the definitive book on Catholic morals in 1921. His section on Magnanimity is worth printing out and putting on your wall (as I did in my hermitage:)
“The characteristics of this virtue are well portrayed by St. Thomas following the teaching of Aristotle: the magnanimous man a) takes a restrained delight in even the greatest honors offered to him, b) remains unruffled both by prosperity and adversity, c) willingly helps others although he himself asks hardly anyone to help him, d) does not fawn upon important personages neither does he allow his liberty to be restricted by their authority, e) is not ambitious, f) expresses his opinions boldly when necessary for he has no fear of man, g) forgets injuries received, h) moves slowly in the external acts of his body.”
Now, let me give a few meditations under each one as to the kind of man I want to be. I admit I have not fulfilled any of the following descriptions of magnanimity as given by Fr. Prummer and St. Thomas. But, as always, the other’s words in italics, mine in bold:
The characteristics of this virtue are well portrayed by St. Thomas following the teaching of Aristotle: the magnanimous man a) takes a restrained delight in even the greatest honors offered to him.
One reason the parish-priest and the online-priest needs to think little of world honoring him is because in the eyes of the Gospel, that can be a sign one is on the wrong track! Jesus said “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”—Luke 6:26. Our internal sins keep us back from receiving external honors when we know what we are capable of. And we should long only for God’s glory, not man’s fading glory.
b) [The magnanimous man] remains unruffled both by prosperity and adversity.
When you think of the worst thing you did to God (your worst mortal sin) and the greatest thing God did for you (dying on a cross in your place) then you quickly see His opinion of you is all that matters. In fact, it should be the only thing that matters, especially for the priest or monk. St. Francis of Assisi said: “What you are in God’s sight is what you are—and nothing more.”
c) [He] willingly helps others although he himself asks hardly anyone to help him.
This is an easy one to bring to one’s examination of conscience. Of course, it takes a certain humility to ask for help (which I am sure Fr. Prummer would admit.) But I believe he means that the magnanimous man is not so much highly-skilled as he is highly-generous. As the old phrase goes, “If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” This does not mean that the good man lives a fast life, but a generous life. Generous people get a lot done for God and for others with minimal stress to them.
d) He does not fawn upon important personages neither does he allow his liberty to be restricted by their authority.
Many of us in the canceled priest (or semi-canceled priest) world get to know conservative celebrities for some reason. They reach out to us because they trust priests specifically distrusted by the corrupt modernist hierarchy. But there’s a danger in knowing these Catholic celebrities: One can have “respect for persons,” which means you treat a rich man better than a homeless man. However, the medicine here is that the magnanimous man will always be on guard against this. He will not fawn over anyone, and he will be quicker to respond to a homeless man in need of help than a celebrity calling him on the phone.
e) [The magnanimous man] is not ambitious.
I believe this means the magnanimous man is ambitious for the kingdom of God and the salvation of souls, but not his own advance in society (or even in good communities.)
f) He expresses his opinions boldly when necessary for he has no fear of man.
When Fr. Prummer writes a few paragraphs up that the we are not to “allow [our] liberty to be restricted by [another’s] authority,” I think he means that a magnanimous man will respect and obey authority, but he will never let any earthly authority take from him his freedom to serve Christ in orthodoxy. He will fear no one. Why? Because Christ has conquered the worst any earthly authority can do to a man: Bodily Death. Thus, we will fear no one.
g) He forgets injuries received.
The magnanimous man doesn’t just grit his teeth and execute the minimum of forgiveness. Rather, he will allow Christ’s forgiveness into his intellect by even forgetting the injuries received. Of course, he will also maintain firm boundaries or even distance with people who should never be trusted.
h) moves slowly in the external acts of his body.
I think this simply means that a generous man does not live a frenetic life, but walks in the peace that only Christ can give. He radiates generosity and charity.
Pray that I can be this type of man.