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The Way Forward - Leading A Virtuous Life - Part 6 Theological Virtues

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JMJ

We have now reached the pinnacle of the virtues - the Theological Virtues. Without the theological virtues, particularly Faith, salvation is impossible.






Theological virtues


All virtues have as their final goal or end to dispose souls to acts conducive to their true happiness. The happiness, has two facets: natural (attainable via natural powers), supernatural (exceeds natural powers). Since, natural means of human action are inadequate to attain a supernatural end, it is necessary that a person be endowed with supernatural powers to enable the attainment of that final destiny. These supernatural principles (powers) are the theological virtues.

They are called theological:

  • because they have God for their immediate and proper object;
  • because they are Divinely infused;
  • because they are known only through Divine Revelation.
There a three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity.

Faith is an infused virtue, perfecting the intellect by a supernatural light, providing the power to, under a supernatural movement of the will, assent firmly to the supernatural truths of Revelation. This assent is performed not based on intrinsic evidence, but solely on the grounds of the infallible authority of God who has revealed these truths. As natural happiness can be understood and sought by knowledge attained by the natural light of reason, to attain our supernatural destiny our intellect must be illumined by certain supernatural principles, namely, Divinely revealed truths.

Hope is the virtue by which the will is perfected to attain our supernatural end. Generally it defined as a Divinely infused virtue, by which we trust, with an unshaken confidence grounded on the Divine assistance, to attain life everlasting.

Charity creates a spiritual union or conformity, by which the soul is united to God, the sovereign Good. Charity, then, is that theological virtue, by which God, our ultimate end, known by supernatural light, is loved by reason of His own intrinsic goodness or amiability, and our neighbour loved on account of God. This virtue is different from faith, as it regards God not under the aspect of truth but of good. It is different from hope inasmuch as it regards God not as our good precisely (nobis bonum), but as good in Himself (in se bonum). With regard to the love of our neighbor, it falls within the theological virtue of charity in so far as its motive is the supernatural love of God, and it is thus distinguished from mere natural affection.

Charity is the most excellent of the Theological Virtues. Faith and hope, involving as they do a certain imperfection, namely, obscurity of light and absence of possession, will cease with this life, but charity involving no essential defect will last forever. Moreover, while charity excludes all mortal sin, faith and hope are compatible with grievous sin; but as such they are only imperfect virtues; it is only when informed and vivified by charity that their acts are meritorious of eternal life.

Application in Today's World

Obviously all three theological virtues are necessary to survive and thrive in this crisis of the Church.
If a Traditional Catholic looses the Faith, they fall further than any heretic since they have been granted so much more.

However, I think that Charity and in particular love of neighbour, is particularly challenged in this crisis.  Why? Because as a Traditional Catholic, we are attacked by those who are not Traditional. It is in this case that our Love of God and neighbour is tested.  It is in this case that I've noticed some Traditionalists, under the continual onslaught from their Catholic brethren, turn bitter, losing that sense that their attackers are loved by God and deserve their love for God's sake.

Love thine enemy is still a command.

P^3

Further Reading


Reference

APA citation. Waldron, M.A. (1912). Virtue. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved July 27, 2015 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15472a.htm
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