Theological Virtues: The Animating Spirits of Human Action
We must regulate and animate all our thoughts, words and actions, even the indifferent and necessary ones, according to the fervent and humble spirit of faith, hope and charity. (OOCC, II, p. 62)
According to St. Vincent Pallotti, theological virtues are the animating spirit of all human actions. For him, every thought, word and deed of a person must come within the purview of faith, hope and love. First, every action must be animated by faith. With the direction of faith, the action a person performs partakes in the power and strength God gives to a person. As a result, it is not the person alone who performs the action, as it is done in and through God. Second, every action must be animated by hope. When a person’s action is regulated by hope, he experiences a great sense of meaningfulness in what he is doing. Even in moments of trials and temptations, hope makes a person cheerful. He neither gives up nor experiences despair, but joyfully and courageously walks the path faith has set for him to follow. Third, every action must be animated by love. When the spirit of charity guides an action, whatever a person believes and hopes becomes enlivened. The virtue of charity brings into a person’s action the right spirit of dynamism, and he is ready to give himself to God and others in love. The spirit of generosity and magnanimity marks a person animated by love. In this manner, faith, hope and love animate a person’s actions and make them perfect and acceptable to God.
Do I allow faith, hope and charity to animate and regulate my actions? Do these virtues have an influence on my thoughts, words and deeds? What do I need to do in order to allow these virtues to have complete control of my actions?
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. (Jas. 1: 2 – 4)