7 Holy Virtues, 7 Deadly Sins
Thank you so very much! My Christmas came early due to your generous response to our request for prayers and contributions for the new transmitter. With your generosity and prayers, we were able to pay for the transmitter without taking out a loan. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for your generosity.
As we start the New Year, let us reflect on how we, as Christians, can amend our lives. With the persecution of Christians, abortion, euthanasia, depression, discord in families, etc., the world is crying out for healing. How did Jesus heal? He looked at each person in totality--- body and soul. He was always concerned with their spiritual and physical health and cured them. Our nation and our families need healing. We are all sinners.
The remedy that will heal families, America and the world is living a virtuous life. Let us reflect on the Seven Holy Virtues and the Seven Deadly Sins:
The Seven Holy Virtues and their opposing Vices
Three Spiritual (or Theological) Virtues:
Fides (Faith) is opposed to atheism, agnosticism and preferring one’s will to the will of God.
Spes (Hope) is opposed to despair, cynicism, and lack of trust in God, or belief in one’s eternal destiny.
Caritas (Charity) is opposed to hatred, wrath and indifference.
The Four Cardinal (or Pagan) Virtues:
Prudence is opposed to impulsiveness and n egligence.
Temperance is opposed to gluttony, drunkenness, unchastity, pride, wrath and greed.
Fortitude is opposed to pusillanimity, timidity, vainglory and inconstancy.
Justice is opposed to disregard for the true rights of God, neighbor and society.
In 410 A.D. the poet Prudentius composed an allegorical poem titled Psychomachia (The Battle for the Soul) in which the Seven Deadly Sins and their contrary Virtues battle for the soul of an individual.
The Seven Deadly Sins and the Virtues one must cultivate to fight them:
None of us wants to lose the Battle for the Soul! Please make an examination of conscience and see what virtue you will work on. If you are living a virtuous life, you are more likely to be joyful. If someone asks you why you are joyful, you can respond that you are trying to give all to God for love of Him and neighbor.
We must all work to re-evangelize America, to re-instill virtue. To do this, we need to know the Truth, to pray for the conversion of our culture and the grace to speak the Truth in charity, and to act. More succinctly, we need to learn, pray and act. St. Michael Broadcasting helps us learn the truth so that we can bring it to others and bring the truth over the airwaves to those we may never meet.
Again, thanks to all of you who so generously helped with the purchase of the new transmitter. May God reward you. There are many ways you can help with this apostolate: with prayer, by offering to volunteer, by telling others, by placing program guides (after receiving permission) in your parish’s literature rack, and by making a financial contribution. Please help in whatever ways you can.