The Pope’s audience: faith, hope and love, the Christian antidote to self-sufficiency

Charlotta Smeds – Vatican City

Pope Francis continued the series of catechesis on vices and virtues at Wednesday’s general audience. After reflecting on the four cardinal virtues: patience, righteousness, fortitude and temperance, today he turned his thoughts to the three theological virtues: faith, hope and love. They “characterize the lives of Christians” and are “the Holy Spirit’s promise of nearness and action” in them. Jesus’ disciple is therefore no hero and “is never alone”.

The cardinal virtues, the basis for a good life

The cardinal virtues, which are a legacy of ancient thought, are the cornerstones of the moral life, that is, of “a good life.” Even before Christ, the Pope explains, honesty, wisdom, courage and moderation were valued. “This heritage of humanity – he observes – has not been replaced by Christianity, but has been brought into focus, valued, purified and integrated”.

In the heart of every man and woman is the ability to seek the good. The gift of the Holy Spirit shapes one to be able to clearly distinguish good from evil, and to have the strength to hold on to the good while avoiding the evil and thus achieve full self-realization.

The theological virtues, the gift of the Spirit

The Christian therefore has an extra gear, in the three virtues of faith, hope and love, “a special help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ”, states the Pope, virtues called theological “when they are received and lived in the relationship with God”. And he quoted how the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines them:

“The theological virtues form the basis of, animate and characterize the action of the Christian man. They are instilled by God in the souls of believers to enable them to act as his children and to achieve eternal life. They are the pledge of the presence of the Holy Spirit and acting in man’s natural equipment. There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and love.”

Not heroes, but disciples

The presence of the Spirit makes a radical difference, Francis points out. While the cardinal virtues can shape heroic people with the aspiration to do good, “the Christian is never alone. He does good – says the Pope – but not through an enormous effort of personal commitment, but because he, as a humble disciple, follows Jesus”.

And he continued:

The Christian has the theological virtues which are the great antidote to self-sufficiency. How often some morally blameless men and women run the risk of becoming presumptuous and arrogant! (…) Pride – arrogance – is a poison, a powerful poison: just one drop is enough to destroy a whole life marked by goodness.

Help in difficult times

Pope Francis emphasized that no one is free from falling and making mistakes and the theological virtues are of great help in difficult situations. And he concluded:

“So if we have lost confidence, God opens us up again with the power of the Spirit; if we are discouraged, God awakens hope in us; if our heart is hardened, God softens it with his love.”