Choose a topic from Part 2A:
1. Moral virtues are connected with one another. St.Ambrose (In Luc. vi 20) says that the virtues are linkedtogether "so that whoever has one is seen to haveseveral." All the moral virtues have their mean or measure inconformity with right reason, and virtue shines through virtue inthe human conduct which is regulated by right reason. However, whenwe consider the moral virtues, not in themselves essentially or inreference to reason which is consistently right, but as practicedby imperfect man, we find them disconnected. Thus a man may havethe virtue of liberality and lack the virtue of temperance.
2. There can be no supernatural moral virtue withoutsupernatural charity which is the infused moral virtue of love andfriendship with God.
3. With the infusion of supernatural charity, allsupernatural moral virtues are given to man, for these are so manymeans of executing the mandates of charity. Charity directs man tohis last end; it is the principle of all good works directed tothat end. Hence charity must bring the supernatural moral virtuesalong with it, since one cannot have charity without these moralvirtues.
4. Nor can supernatural faith be perfectly possessedwithout charity.
5. Charity, which is supernatural love and friendship withGod, brings supernatural faith and supernatural hope along with itto the soul of man. Unless a responsible person supernaturallybelieve in God and hope to attain him, he cannot be in God'slove and friendship. No one can love a being which he does notbelieve, nor can a person have true friendship for a being whosepresence and favor he does not hope to share.
"As the flesh is nourished by food, so is man supported by prayers"
St Augustine
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"Obedience is the true holocaust which we sacrifice to God on the altar of our hearts."
St Philip Neri
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"Spiritual persons ought to be equally ready to experience sweetness and consolation in the things of God, or to suffer and keep their ground in drynesses of spirit and devotion, and for as long as God pleases, without their making any complaint about it."
St Philip Neri
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