Caprice

St. Benedict encouraged us today to curb our own caprice.  We are reminded that...

The phrase “curb our own caprice” calls us to recognize and restrain the impulsive, self-serving tendencies within ourselves—especially those rooted in fleeting desires, whims, or moods. Let’s unpack it more deeply:

1. Caprice: What It Is

The word caprice refers to sudden, unpredictable changes in mood or behavior—an inclination to act on impulse rather than principle or reason. It’s when we:

• make decisions based on fleeting emotions rather than long-term wisdom,

• pursue gratification even when it’s harmful or misaligned with our values,

• or change course erratically, driven by ego or boredom rather than clarity.

Examples of caprice might include:

• abandoning a responsibility for the sake of convenience,

• undermining a relationship because of pride or anger,

• or pursuing novelty over the steady disciplines of love, faith, or service.

2. Curb: The Intentional Restraint

To curb something is not to destroy it but to contain, channel, or discipline it. Curbing our own caprice means:

• pausing before acting, especially when emotions are high,

• weighing consequences with maturity rather than indulging desires,

• and choosing the harder right over the easier wrong.

It’s an act of interior strength—like bridling a spirited horse, not to break it, but to make it purposeful.

3. Spiritual and Moral Dimensions

In religious or moral traditions, curbing caprice often speaks to the path of wisdom, humility, and self-mastery. For instance:

• In Stoicism, it’s the practice of aligning with reason over emotion.

• In Christian spirituality, it’s an act of surrendering the ego to God’s will, putting love above self-gratification.

• In monastic tradition, it’s the daily discipline of stability and obedience, even when the heart is restless or discontent.

4. Why It Matters

Curbing our own caprice matters because:

• Freedom without form becomes chaos—we may think we’re acting freely, but we’re often enslaved to impulse.

• Character is forged not by how we act when it’s easy, but how we choose when it’s hard.

• Communities thrive when individuals choose commitment over caprice, fidelity over fickleness.

Amen and Amen