Francis said at the General Audience that “on the path towards the fullness of life, which belongs to the destiny of each person, the Christian enjoys particular assistance from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. This is achieved with the gift of three other virtues, purely Christian , which are often mentioned together in New Testament writings.” These fundamental attitudes, which characterize the lives of Christians, are faith, hope and charity.”
Mariangela Jaguraba – Vatican News
“The life of grace according to the Spirit” was the theme of Pope Francis’ catechesis at the General Audience, this Wednesday (24/04), held in Saint Peter’s Square.
Continuing the cycle of catechesis on “Vices and Virtues”, the Holy Father recalled his reflection, last week, centered on the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.
Adhere to good and avoid evil
According to Francisco, “these four virtues belong to a very ancient wisdom, which precedes Christianity”. Even before Christ, “honesty was preached as a civic duty, wisdom as a rule of actions, courage as a fundamental ingredient for a life that tends towards good, moderation as a necessary measure to avoid being dominated by excesses”. “This heritage of humanity was not replaced by Christianity, but highlighted, valued, purified and integrated”, he underlined.
There is, therefore, in the heart of every man and woman, the ability to seek the good. The Holy Spirit is given so that whoever receives it can clearly distinguish good from evil, have the strength to adhere to good while avoiding evil and, in doing so, achieve full self-realization.
Faith, hope and charity
The Pope stressed that “on the path towards the fullness of life, which belongs to the destiny of each person, the Christian enjoys particular assistance from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is realized with the gift of three other virtues, purely Christian, which are often mentioned together in the writings of the New Testament.”
“These fundamental attitudes, which characterize the lives of Christians, are faith, hope and charity. Christian writers soon called them “theological”, as they are received and lived in a relationship with God, to differentiate them from others called “cardinal”, as they constitute the “pivot” of a good life. These three are received in Baptism and come from the Holy Spirit.”
Both, combined in many systematic reflections, thus composed a wonderful septenary, which is often contrasted with the list of the seven deadly sins.
Theological virtues, great antidote to self-sufficiency
According to Francis, “while the risk of cardinal virtues is that of generating heroic men and women in the practice of good, but ultimately alone, isolated, the great gift of theological virtues is the existence lived in the Holy Spirit“.
According to the Pope, “the Christian is never alone. He does good not through a titanic effort of personal commitment, but because, as a humble disciple, he walks behind the Master Jesus. He continues on the path. Christians have theological virtues that are the great antidote to self-reliance“. “How many times do certain morally impeccable men and women run the risk of becoming, in the eyes of those who know them, presumptuous and arrogant”, underlined Francisco.
According to the Pontiff, this “is a danger against which the Gospel warns us well, when Jesus recommends to his disciples: «In the same way you too, when you have done everything that was commanded you, say: “We are unprofitable servants, we have done what we should do”»”.
“Arrogance is a powerful poison: just one drop is enough to ruin an entire life characterized by good.”
Good is not only an end, but also a path. Good needs a lot of discretion, a lot of kindness. Above all, good needs to get rid of that sometimes too uncomfortable presence that is our self.
Open your heart to the Holy Spirit
According to Francis, “to correct all these situations that sometimes become painful, theological virtues are of great help. They are especially so in moments of falling, because even those who have good moral intentions sometimes fall. We all fall in life, because we are all sinners. Just as those who practice virtue daily sometimes make mistakes: we all make mistakes in life and intelligence is not always clear, the will is not always firm, passions are not always governed, courage does not always overcome what is necessary. fear”.
“But if we open our heart to the Holy Spirit, He revives the theological virtues in us: then, if we have lost trust, God reopens us to faith; if we are discouraged, God awakens hope in us; if our heart is hardened , God softens him with his love”, concluded the Pope.
Tags: Pope theological virtues great antidote selfsufficiency
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