September 18, 2012 – Catechism 1812 – 1821

The 3 Theological virtues are Faith, Hope, and Charity (or Love).  Obviously we don’t have to go into the “faith alone” argument here.  I was interested in faith is not only the belief in God, but additionally we are to “believe all that [God] has said and revealed to us”.  Much of what has been revealed has come to us through the Church. 

Hope is the longing for Heaven.  It talks about receiving these virtues through Grace, but we have this gift inherently.  I think everyone, regardless of what they believe, have a longing for Heaven, even if they don’t know it or if they don’t call it Heaven.  This hope is what anchors us so that we do not drop into despair.  I have written before about how sorry I feel for those that don’t believe in Heaven because without that belief, Hope is not there for them as an anchor.  They are much more vulnerable to dropping into the despair.  Is it any surprise that with us taking God out of everything, suicides have passed car accidents as the number 1 cause of deaths in the US.  No Heaven, no Hope, Vulnerable to despair.