The theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love provide special graces for the human soul, while the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance serve as pillars, helping us stay within the bounds of a virtuous life.
The Catholic Church provides the faithful with the opportunity to strengthen the cardinal virtues through the penitential acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during Lent.
Let’s focus on just one of the cardinal virtues today: Temperance.
“Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable.” CCC 1809
Temperance is different from discipline. Discipline is the act of building habits by taking repeated action, whereas Temperance is the act of refraining from overindulging the senses or temptations. They’re similar in that they both involve self-control.
As Catholics, we know that every little thought, every phrase, every choice can either help us grow as disciples or fall into habits that separate us from Him.
You’ve heard it said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Or the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. When we practice Temperance during the forty days of Lent, we put into action the very virtue that strengthens our flesh and builds habits that truly transform us as disciples.
Let’s assume you gave up gossip for Lent this year. Besides simply avoiding it altogether (which would be wonderful!), let’s uncover how we can strengthen our ability to avoid gossip by practicing Temperance in three areas: in our thoughts, words, and actions.
Every Sunday at Mass, we mark our foreheads (thoughts), lips (words), and hearts (actions) before the Gospel is proclaimed. This gesture signifies that as we hear the Gospel proclaimed, we must receive it in such a way that we carry it with us in all that we think, say, and do.
Bearing this in mind and taking into account the virtue of Temperance, what does this look like in our daily lives, and how will it lead us to true freedom?
It’s important to remember that our God gives us free will. He does not control us. He loves us. Love does not control.
Free will is a gift because it allows us the ability to make our own choices or refrain from making certain choices. Using the example of gossip, to practice using the virtue of Temperance, begin with your thoughts.
“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” Romans 12:2.
Picture this: you’re at work, and you hear a co-worker complaining about her home life. You immediately notice that you begin to judge her for being so negative, for being ungrateful.
Instead, you direct your thoughts to something else. You begin to think she must be sad. Something must be weighing on her for her to feel the need to share it at work. You remember a time when you’ve felt the same way. And you start to look at her as a sister who, like you, desires to be seen, known, and loved.
That’s temperance of thought.
Next, practice Temperance with your words.
“No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear” Ephesians 4:29.
Imagine you’re at the office and a group of co-workers is in the break room making inappropriate jokes and laughing. You think the jokes are mostly harmless, and you’re tempted to join in for the laughs. But then you stop yourself. You decide that the joke you were about to make doesn’t match what you profess each Sunday at Mass. It doesn’t match who you want to be as a disciple. So you stay quiet instead.
That’s temperance of speech.
Finally, practicing Temperance through action may look like the following example.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” Mark 12:31.
As you’re leaving work, you bump into a friend. She starts spilling about another mutual friend, which quickly turns into a full-blown gossip session. It would be easier to agree with her and let her go on. It may even make you feel better about yourself to know someone else’s shortcomings and gossip. But you practice temperance by taking action. You stop your friend and remind her that we’re all broken and you offer to pray for your mutual friend instead.
That’s temperance of action.
When we actively seek temperance, what follows is true freedom.
The freedom will show up as solidarity with those who may be going through the same struggles as you, knowing that we’re all created in God’s image, which will also start to chip away at the negative thoughts we may have about ourselves.
The freedom will show up as a clear conscience free from the burden of guilt, knowing that we have avoided slandering our own or someone else’s reputation through harsh words.
The freedom will show up as detachment from the desires of our temptations and the opportunity to love abundantly those most in need through prayer and kindness.
Saint Augustine, a saint who knew a lot about succumbing to temptation before his conversion, said this about Temperance: “Temperance is love surrendering itself wholly to Him who is its object.”
Because only when we detach ourselves from the temptations of the flesh are we able to receive the grace to grow into the saints we’re meant to become.
As we build our Temperance muscle over these next 40 days of Lent, we’re invited to deeper transformation and deeper communion with God. Let’s pray for the graces of Faith, Hope, and Love to fill us as we go deeper into the wilderness with Jesus this Lent.
SOURCES
https://www.catholic.com/qa/whats-the-catholic-understanding-of-virtue
https://www.azquotes.com/author/663-Saint_Augustine/tag/temperance