Meaning of Theological Virtues
What are the Theological Virtues:
In Christianity theological virtues are called the set of values and attitudes that empower the human being to approach God and relate to him. The observance of the theological virtues encourages the practice of cardinal virtues, for which they complement each other.
This is based on the second letter of the apostle Peter: “With them [God] has granted us the greatest and most valuable promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1, 4).
From the point of view of Christian theology, theological virtues are inspired by the understanding of the human being by the Holy Spirit, which allows people to act as “children of God”.
The theological virtues were summarized by Saint Paul in the I letter to the Corinthians: "In a word, there are now three things: faith, hope and charity, but the greatest of all is charity" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
These would be one of the first theological formulations of the founding and animating character of the theological virtues in the Christian experience.
See also Cardinal Virtues.
Faith is believing in God and trusting his revelation. This supposes, therefore, the spiritual openness necessary to be able to recognize the manifestation of God in daily life and in the community of believers, that is, in the Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines faith as "the theological virtue by which we believe in God and in all that He has told and revealed to us" (article 1814).
As an act of trust in revealed truth, faith encourages concrete action according to spiritual principles inspired by God and motivates openly professing it, that is, bearing witness to it and spreading it.
See also Faith.
Faith instills hope. Hope is the confident waiting for the fulfillment of a certain horizon that, in the case of Christian theology, refers to the fulfillment of the promises of Jesus: the kingdom of heaven and eternal life, based on which the Christian he conducts himself spiritually.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church he maintains that hope "corresponds to the desire for happiness placed by God in the heart of every man" (article 1818).
Hope, animated by faith, allows human beings to commit to the changes necessary to build the kingdom of God, as well as to find meaning in work, strength to face difficulties and patience to wait.
See also Hope.
Charity (love) is the center of the Christian heart. In it faith and hope are fully expressed and, therefore, it orders and articulates all the virtues.
Charity (love) is defined as the virtue that allows people to love God above all things and, in the name of this bond, to love their neighbor as themselves. Its fruits are joy, peace, and mercy.
This corresponds to the fundamental commandment that Jesus communicates to his apostles: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, so love one another ”(John 13:34).
For the Apostle Saint Paul, charity is the most important of the theological virtues, as can be seen in the following verse: "Even if I distribute all my goods to feed the poor and give my body to the flames, if I do not have love It is of no use to me "(1 Corinthians 13, 3).