Men Don't Run!

N.B. Magnagnimity is seated to the immediate left of the King.
Click picture to enlarge.

Typically, the magnanimous man is of a slow gait, a deep voice, and a deliberate utterance; to speak in shrill tones and walk fast denotes an excitable and nervous temperament, which does not belong to one who cares for few things and thinks nothing great.

Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics Book IV, chapter 3 (1125a 14-15)
Nevertheless...

The Prodigal Son's father is remarkable in that "he ran to meet him": ...accurens..."running (he fell upon his neck"). And why? "[M]isericordia motus est..." He was moved with mercy!

He ran for mercy! For mercy's sake he runs!


...And Saint Peter and Saint John run tomorrow morning to the tomb to verify it's emptiness, John running faster than Peter.


God runs for us and we must run for God.


And yet...it is still not proper for men to run, even though this typical behavioral trait among great men (as with all mere human propriety) does know exceptions, when necessary.

Sometimes it is necessary to do what is humanly improper! For faith. For mercy.

Christians are not mere gentlemen. They are gentlemen, of the heart and of the mind of God!

Caritas Christi...urget vos. 2 Corinthians 5:14

N.B. Consider, in this light, the retirement of Pope Emeritus Benedict and the activity of Pope Francis. One sits while the other runs around. Equally, confessedly, for the love of God!