Following his reflection last Wednesday on the four cardinal virtues -prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance-, the Pope has addressed in his catechesis The three theological virtues, faith, hope and charity, were presented in St. Peter's Square under the theme "The life of grace according to the Spirit". The reading was from the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians.
The Pontiff said that in addition to the four cardinal virtues, the four cardinal virtues, the three theological virtues constitute "a septenary" which is opposed to the seven deadly sins, and which, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "found, animate and characterize the moral action of the Christian. They inform and vivify all the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to enable them to act as his children and to merit eternal life. They are the guarantee of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being" (n. 1813).
The theological virtues are "an antidote to self-sufficiency" and the risk of becoming "presumptuous and arrogant". Pride is "a powerful poison. One drop is enough to spoil "a life marked by good", the Pope pointed out, recalling that the theological virtues help in the fight against the "ego", the "poor self" that takes possession of everything, and then pride is born".
"Antidote to self-sufficiency."
Francis commented in this way: "The cardinal virtues run the risk of generating heroic men and women who do good, but who act alone, isolated; instead, the great gift of the theological virtues is existence lived in the Holy Spirit. The Christian is never alone. He does good not because of a titanic effort of personal commitment, but because, as a humble disciple, he walks behind the Master Jesus. The theological virtues are the great antidote to self-sufficiency. How often certain morally irreproachable men and women run the risk of becoming presumptuous and arrogant in the eyes of those who know them!"
"It is a danger of which the Gospel warns us well, where Jesus recommends to the disciples: 'You also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants. We have done what we ought to have done' (Lk 17:10). Pride is a powerful poison: one drop is enough to spoil a whole life marked by good".
The Pope also pointed out that "the theological virtues are of great help. They are especially so in moments of downfall, because even those who have good moral intentions sometimes fall. Just as even those who practice virtue every day sometimes err: intelligence is not always lucid, the will is not always firm, the passions are not always governed, courage does not always overcome fear".
"But if we open our heart to the Holy Spirit, He revives in us the theological virtues: then, if we have lost confidence, God reopens us to faith; if we are discouraged, God awakens hope in us; if our heart is hardened, God warms it and kindles it with His love."
St. Mark, St. John Paul II
Francis recalled that "tomorrow we will celebrate the liturgical feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist who described with vividness and concreteness the mystery of the person of Jesus of Nazareth. I invite you all to allow yourselves to be fascinated by Christ, to collaborate with enthusiasm and fidelity in building the Kingdom of God".
The Pope also referred to the fact that next Saturday, the Church celebrates the tenth anniversary of the canonization of St. John Paul II. "Looking at his life, we can see what man can achieve by accepting and developing in himself the gifts of God: faith, hope and charity. Remain faithful to your legacy. Promote life and do not let yourselves be deceived by the culture of death. Through his intercession, let us ask God for the gift of peace for which he, as Pope, was so committed. I bless you from my heart".
