DILIGENCE. - In its primary meaning it indicates an assiduous and exquisite care, a particular attentiveness in doing something. Even in the spiritual life and in ascetics it fundamentally retains the same meaning. Thus one calls diligent the person who considers and weighs his duties and strives to fulfill them in the best way. It is a Christian virtue first of all, as well as a natural gift, which arouses admiration and respect. It is opposed to negligence, which indicates a habitual carelessness in what one would be obliged to do.
Diligence is defined by St. Thomas as: «a right choice of those means that lead to the end» (Summ. Theol., 2nd-2nd, q. 54, a. 3). It is therefore part of the virtue of prudence, which is precisely the virtue that directs the intellect in every action to discern what helps or harms the attainment of the end.
It can be distinguished from prudence in that diligence acts more on the will than on the intellect. The will, enlightened by prudence in the choice of means, through the virtue of diligence strives to put them into practice and to attain the end. Diligence frees the soul from sloth and from thoughtlessness: it therefore requires a daily commitment and effort, even and especially in the small things that are usually neglected. But small things contribute to perfection, which is not a small thing: care in performing them well is therefore one of the means most recommended by masters of the spiritual life for obtaining this virtue. Other means indicated by the Fathers and the saints are, besides prayer to God (cf. the magnificent elevation on prudence in Wis. 9), the habit of fulfilling one's duties with tranquility of spirit, of attending to each one as if it were the only one imposed on us, not putting off until tomorrow what can be done today, weighing the pros and cons of everything without haste, treasuring one's own experience and that of others, and taking counsel from sensible and learned persons.
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Giuseppe Sette