1. The Virtues of Faith and Hope
Notre Dame Seminary
T2 Formation Conference
Discerning the Virtues

3. The Virtue of Faith Faith itself Definition
“virtue infused by God in the intellect by which we firmly assent to divinely revealed truths on the authority of God who reveals them” (Royo, 364).
Faith is the beginning and foundation of justification
"Certainly we affirm with full truth that the faith which is etched in the heart of everyone who believes … proceeds from a single doctrine, but it is one thing what we believe (ea quae creduntur), and another thing the faith with which we believe (fides qua credentur)" (de Trinitate, XIII, 2, 5)
quae = God and His revealed truths - Objective
qua = Power by which we believe - Subjective

4. Sins against faith infidelity or paganism – a universal unbelief
heresy – disbelief or denial of a particular truth
apostasy – complete abandonment of the Christian faith
blasphemy
blindness of heart
dullness of spiritual sense

5. Increase in Faith “I do believe, Lord, help my disbelief”
“The just man lives by faith” (Rom. 1:17) – This is the goal of the spiritual life.
Faith can increase objectively (in the extension to numbers of revealed truths) and subjectively (in the purity and intensity of the act of faith)
Increase of faith in beginners:
be convinced of the gratuitous nature of faith
“I do believe, Lord, help my disbelief”

6. reject whatever is a danger to faith
i. use the indirect attack in dealing with temptations against the faith
ii. use prudence in reading material
iii. avoid intellectual pride
study Catholic doctrine
make frequent acts of faith

7. Increase of faith in advanced souls:
practice of beholding God in faith without selfish motives
believing firmly despite aridity and lack of consolation
make every effort to evaluate all things in accord with the teachings of the faith
especially in accord with the Beatitudes
recall the words of Scripture, “This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith” (1Jn. 5:4)
Walk in faith during times of suffering and adversity
this gives meaning and joy in suffering

8. Gift of Understanding
Definition
“a supernatural habit infused in soul with Sanctifying Grace by which the human intellect, under the illuminating action of the Holy Spirit, is made apt for a penetrating intuition of the speculative and practical revealed truths, and even for natural truths, so far as they are related to the supernatural end” (Royo, 370).
resides in the speculative intellect
formal object = penetrating intuition

9. it is basically infused contemplation – simplex intuitus veritatis
its is a penetration of truths by a simple apprehension without making any judgments concerning them
wisdom – judgment relating to divine things
knowledge – judgment relating to created things
counsel – judgment relating to particular actions

10. Peasant to Cure of Ars: “I look at Him and He looks at me.”
Effects
Gift of understanding enables us to see the substance of things which are hidden under their accidental manifestations
Holy Eucharist
Peasant to Cure of Ars: “I look at Him and He looks at me.”
Discloses the hidden meaning of Sacred Scripture
Road to Emmaus: “He opened their minds to the meaning of the Scriptures” (Lk. 24:45).
E.g. of Saints: St. Therese of Lisieux for little way and for her vocation

11. Reveals mysterious significance of symbols and figures
E.g. in Sacred Scripture Paul comes to understand the rock in desert as signifying Christ: “And the rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4).
Reveals spiritual realities under sensible appearances
liturgical ceremonies of the Church
One contemplates effects present in their causes
e.g. Mary at Foot of Cross to souls in her bosom as Mother of the Church

12. One contemplates causes through their effects
e.g. flowers of the field to God
Eventually, a person comes to live entirely by this divine instinct. St. Thomas says, “In this very life, when the eye of the spirit is purified by the gift of understanding, one can in a certain way see God” (IIa IIae, Q. 69, a. 2, ad. 3).

13. Beatitudes
Mt. 5:8 “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God”
Fruits:
faith – the certitude of faith
joy – spiritual joy
Means to employ for progress
Practice living a vital faith with the assistance of ordinary grace
the soul must do all that it can in exercising the infused virtues to dispose oneself for the activation of the Gifts

14. Endeavor to live in perfect purity of soul and body
dullness of spirit and spiritual blindness, originating in carnal desires and attachments, are incompatible with the activation of the Gift of Understanding
constantly call to mind the beatitude: “Blessed are the pure, they shall see God.”
Practice interior recollection
God tells us, “I shall lead her to the desert and I shall speak to her heart” (Hosea 2:14). We must enter the “desert” of interior recollection

15. Fidelity to grace
“Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit” (Eph. 4:30)
“If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Ps. 95:8).
Constantly invoke the Holy Spirit

16. Gift of Knowledge Definition
“a supernatural habit, infused with grace, through which the human intellect, under the illuminating action of the Holy Spirit, judges rightly concerning created things as ordained to the supernatural end” (Royo, 378).
it enables an appreciation of the connection between created things and our supernatural end.
it is primarily speculative and secondarily practical
intellect apprehends and judges by a certain divine instinct or connaturality

17. effects
teaches the soul to judge rightly concerning created things in relation to God
experience the emptiness of creatures
experience the vestige of God in creatures
guides the soul with certitude concerning what must be believed or not believed
the soul possesses the sensus fidei in an exceptional manner
Eg. St. Teresa of Avila, without study, rejected the position that one must pass beyond the humanity of Jesus in order to arrive at God in higher grades of prayer

18. the state of one’s soul is seen promptly and with certitude
soul judges rightly concerning its interior acts, movements, motives, merits and demerits.
the soul sees the correct path by which his neighbor must travel in order to help him
a preacher knows what he must urge his people to at this particular point
director knows the spiritual need of the soul before him

19. it detaches the soul from the things of this world
it teaches the soul how to use created things in a holy way
it fills the soul with repentance and sorrow for past sins

20. Beatitude
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Mt. 5:5).
Fruits: faith and joy (these are the same for the gifts of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom)

21. Vices opposed to the Gift of Knowledge
ignorance
occupying oneself in vain things or without proper moderation
relying by presumption too much on one’s own knowledge and judgments
this is why so many mystics are not learned: “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the learned and wise and have revealed them to the little ones” (Mt. 11:25).

22. Means of Progress
consider the vanity of created things
one should accomplish as much as possible in this regard through discursive meditation on the subject
Refer habitually all created things to God so as to pass through the contemplation or use of creatures to God

23. oppose energetically the spirit of the world
recall the words of the apostle James: “Love for the world is hatred for God.”
Recognize the hand of God’s providence in all that befalls us
Be preoccupied with purity of heart
fidelity in fulfilling one’s duties
practice of custody of the heart

24. The Virtue of Hope Hope Itself Definition
“a theological virtue infused by God into the will, by which we trust with complete certitude in the attainment of eternal life and the means necessary for reaching it, assisted by the omnipotent help of God” (Royo, 386).
hope resides in the will

25. Sins against hope despair the defect of the virtue of hope
it is usually caused by spiritual sloth and lust
presumption
the excess of the virtue of hope
it is usually a result of vainglory and pride

26. Growth in hope beginners need to raise their eyes to heaven so as to:
disdain the things of earth
“What does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul?” (Mt. 16:26).
be consoled in midst of labors and sufferings
Romans 8:13
2 Cor. 4:17
encouraged in the practice of virtue

27. Those advanced in the spiritual life need to practice the following:
never be preoccupied with anxious concern for tomorrow
Cf. Mt. 6:25-34
simplify prayer
Cf. Mt. 6:7-13
advance in detachment from all earthly things
advance with great confidence along the path of union with God

28. Perfect souls will possess the following operations of hope:
universal confidence in God
E.g. audacity of the saints
“hope against hope” (Rom. 4:18)
“even should He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15)

29. By nature no one wants to die
Indestructible peace and serenity
Cure of Ars when he was unexpectedly slapped, “Friend, the other cheek will be envious”
Desirous of death in order to enter the promised land of heaven
By nature no one wants to die
when hope has been perfected the soul sighs, “I die because I do not die” (St. Augustine)
Heaven begins on earth
“Our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20)

30. The Gift of Fear Definition
“a supernatural habit by which the just soul, under the instinct of the Holy Spirit, acquires a special docility for subjecting itself completely to the divine will out of reverence for the excellency and majesty of God, who is capable of inflicting punishment on us” (Royo, 392).
Types of fear
mundane fear – sinful
servile fear – imperfect
filial fear – perfect

31. Effects
lively sentiment of the grandeur and majesty of God
soul is overwhelmed with sentiments of reverence and submission to God
humility here is perfected
praise is taken by the soul as ridicule
great reverence and care for the things of God
great horror for sin and sorrow for past sins
mortal anguish is experienced; especially in the passive night of spirit
soul experiences the greatest horror and anguish for the slightest faults and offenses against God

32. extreme solicitude to avoid the slightest offense against God
such souls instantly flee near occasions of sin
perfect detachment from all created things
in comparison to the grandeur and majesty of God, all created things are considered base

33. Beatitudes
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt. 5:3).
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Mt. 5:5).
Fruits:
modesty – a result of reverence for the Divine Majesty
continence and chastity – a result of moderation of concupiscible appetites by the Gift of Fear

34. Vices opposed to Gift of Fear
Pride
Presumption
Means of Progress
frequent meditation on the infinite grandeur and majesty of God
cultivation of a reverent and confident converse with God
frequent meditation on the horror and malice of sin
fidelity to the daily examination of conscience

35. Exercise of meekness and humility in relating to one’s neighbor
reminding oneself of how merciful God has been to me
avoiding the opposite sentiment: Cf. Mt. 18:23-35
Beseech the Holy Spirit for a reverential fear of God