Embracing and Living the Theological Virtues
"ACTS OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE"
Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three
divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that
your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he
will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and
all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because
you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend
to live and die. Amen.
Act of Hope
O Lord God, I hope by your grace for the pardon of all my sins
and after life here to gain eternal happiness because you have
promised it who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind, and
merciful. In this hope I intend to live and die. Amen.
Act of Love
O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbor
for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect
good, worthy of all my love. In this love I intend to live and
die. Amen.
Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
"EMBRACING AND LIVING THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES"
““Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,e6it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but re-joices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...So faith, hope. love remain, these three, but the greatest of these is love.”
(1 Cor 13:4-8a,13)”
Do you accept God’s gift of faith, hope, and love to flourish within and through your life?
Last week we spoke about human moral virtues, being “the habitual disposition to do the good” and “stable dispositions of the intellect and will that govern our acts, order our passions, and guide our conduct in accordance with reason and faith.” These virtues can be practiced and developed by anyone with the intention and will to do so. We specifically considered the four “cardinal virtues” of “prudence,” “justice,” “fortitude,” and “temperance.”
This week you are invited to consider the three “Theological Virtues” of “faith,” hope” and “love” (“charity”) that “inform all the moral virtues and give them life (CCC, nos. 1833, 1834, 1841)” (USCCA). These theological virtues are mentioned in the letters of the Apostle Paul (see 1 Cor 13:13 and 1 Thes 1:3), and they have been considered, written about, and proclaimed by the Church since that time.
These Theological Virtues are the foundation of the Christian moral life. They are freely given to us by the grace of God through no effort on our part. They define humanity’s ideal relationship with our living God. They call us to believe in God, hope in God, and love God. We have the freedom to choose whether or not to accept and to allow these supernatural virtues to flourish within our souls, and for their light to inform, form and transform our hearts, minds, and actions—our entire being.
“Love” or “Charity” is considered the greatest Theological Virtue “by which we give love to God for [God’s] own sake and love to our neighbor on account of God” and as God loves us. (See Mt 22:37-40; Mk 12:30-31; Lk 10:27; Jn 13:34). Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor 13:7). We offer our “Act of Love” because God is “the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love” (see USCCA, App. A & B).
The Theological Virtue of “Faith” is “both a gift of God and a human act by which the believer gives personal adherence to God (who invites his or her response) and freely assents to the whole truth that God has revealed.” We offer our “Act of Faith” in the truths revealed by God because God is “eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived” (Id.).
Through the Theological Virtue of “Hope” “a person both desires and expects the fulfillment of God’s promises of things to come.” We offer our “Act of Hope” for God’s pardon of our sins and “to gain eternal happiness because [the Triune God] have promised it who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful” (Id.)
It is through these Acts of Faith, Hope and Love that we profess and offer to God our intention “to live and die.”
VIDEOS
"Faith, Hope, and Love" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"What is Hope and Why Do I Need It?" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"The Three Theological Virtues: Faith" (Jesuits USC)
"The Three Theological Virtues: Hope" (Jesuits USC)
"The Three Theological Virtues: Love" (Jesuits USC)
"The Theological Virtues (Aquinas 101")(The Thomistic Institute)
"Theological Virtues: Faith" (Fr. Ripperger)
"Theological Virtues: Hope" (Fr. Ripperger)
"Theological Virtues: Charity" (Fr. Ripperger)
"What Faith Is, and What Faith Isn't" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"Theological Virtues" (Mike Brummond, S.T.L.)
"Tour of the Catechism, No. 66 - Theological Virtues" (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC
"Faith, Hope, and Love"
"Center of My Life"
"Song of Hope" ("Heaven Come Down")