7 Scribal Virtues Every Calligrapher Needs to Know
Hey there, fellow scribes and admirers of the ancient art of calligraphy! Today, we’re diving into a rich and fascinating subject – the seven scribal virtues. It’s a journey through wisdom, beauty, and time-honored tradition.
Ever heard of Pope Gregory I? He was a prominent figure in history. Back in the day (around 540-604 CE), he mapped out the seven deadly sins. But he also spotlighted the brighter side of life, detailing The Seven Virtues. These virtues aren’t just lofty ideas; they’re the backbone of every scribe’s work.
Now you might wonder, Virtues – what’s the big deal? Think of virtues as talents waiting to bloom or skills you’ve practiced into perfection. They’re the good deeds you perform, and they’re the training that guides you toward greatness. These virtues flow through the ink of every scribe, whether you’re a beginner or have mastered the art. So here they are …
Seven Virtues for Scribes
🖋️ Prudence: St. Thomas Aquinas describes it as the “right reason in action.” It’s your practical wisdom guiding you in your craft. A prudent scribe is like a silent detective, quietly researching, gathering details, and keeping secrets about the scroll’s recipient, all to create a masterpiece. She unobtrusively gathers personal details. He quietly researches persona-related manuscript styles, keeping quiet about their use.
🖋️ Justice: More than just a legal term, justice embodies respect, honor, and dignity. It’s about valuing creations, people, even animals! And the scrolls a scribe creates? They’re instruments of honor, shining light on the dignity of those we celebrate. Qualities lauded by Our Society!
🖋️ Fortitude: This one’s all about courage and strength. We’re an A & S fighter, battling exhaustion and backaches for hours tirelessly placing teeny-tiny ink and paint strokes on Bristol board or vellum. That’s how a scribe displays fortitude!
🖋️ Temperance: The art of balancing restraint and inspiration. Guided by scribal tradition, a temperate scribe crafts award scrolls or pre-print masters resembling lost pages from medieval masterpieces, all while staying true to the Monarch’s wishes.
But wait, there’s more! Faith, hope, and love add a touch of magic to our scribal craft.
🖋️ Faith: It’s not just religious. Faith is about optimism, patience, and believing in positive outcomes. It’s the wind beneath a novice’s wings, helping them fly high in their scribal journey. Faith helps us face scribal difficulties and expect positive outcomes.
🖋️ Hope: The spark that fuels joy, hope drives a scribe to learn, explore, and dream of excellence in every courageous work. Each skill we learn, each scroll we create we hope benefits the recipient and the Monarch presenting it.
🖋️ Love: St. Augustine nailed it, saying, “Love is the fulfillment of all our works.” It’s the joy we feel when crafting a scroll for a stranger, coaching and teaching others our acquired skills, or embracing the Royal Scribe role often more than once.
A scribe’s response to Virtue’s call is complex, personal, and oh-so-rewarding. Am I perfect at it? Heck no! But the joy lies in the journey, the learning, the rehearsing. Join me, won’t you? Tell me, in the comment section. your feelings and thoughts about scribal virtues. How do you uphold them? What are their values to you?
