the „elite„

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If you are reading these lines, you might be in the fortunate position of following your calling to become a better person. According to Ortega y Gasset, there are two kinds of people. Most belong to the “mass”—the grey, undisciplined ones—who show no real desire to improve. The others, the few, are what the author calls “the elites”: those who willingly submit to authority, respect rules, and strive continually for self-improvement.

Young people often gather with the impression that they are among the elites, still in a formative stage of life. Yet time will reveal whether this is true. Once compulsory education ends, many abandon learning and become stagnant—just like the very generations they once sought to distinguish themselves from during their school years.

This is a tendency we must all be aware of and strive to resist. We all need continual personal, cultural, and spiritual growth. This ongoing formation is what gives us lasting value. When our physical strength and outward charm fade, it is inner beauty that makes us truly lovable—at least to those who value virtue. As for the love of others who don’t, it’s not worth chasing.

Continuing our formation is comparable to keeping our bodies in shape. We go to the gym, follow a “healthy” diet, and stick to a strict routine—all to maintain physical fitness. The same applies to spiritual formation. We need to feed on a healthy spiritual diet, discern what nourishes the soul and what doesn’t, and build habits that keep us on a path of continual growth.

Finding what suits us—authors who speak to our condition, friends who remain vigilant over our spiritual well-being—these are all essential to our spiritual becoming.

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