Book Access - "The Theological Virtues" Ch. 8 of "Virtue Stands in the Middle" Dr. Gustafson

Chapter 8 

Dr. Christopher Gustafson, STD is a Catholic theologian in the United States. GPQ did an interview with him in January of 2022 on his upcoming book, Virtue Stands in the Middle, which you can access here. He has graciously offered to share parts of his upcoming book on virtue. The work not only delves in Catholic tradition and teaching on virtue and vice, but offers access to many images of the symbolism and iconographic tradition of the Seven Lady Virtues. Below is access to chapter eight. 

"The theological virtues adapt the intellect and will for participation in the divine nature. We recall that there are two sets of infused virtues that accompany the life of grace typically entered into at baptism. There are the three infused theological virtues and the four infused moral virtues. Here we examine the first set so foundational for our life with God. Most people have at least heard of the three theological virtues. One often hears the following famous passage read at weddings: “Love is patient and kind, love is not jealous or boastful. . . So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:4;13). These three Christian virtues are here artistically personified by Raphael. Lady Hope (at the top) is a woman gazing toward heaven in prayer. Lady Charity (in the middle) is a self-sacrificing mother with children in her arms and at the breast. Lady Faith (at the bottom) holds the Blessed Sacrament adoringly. These three personifications are fairly consistent in artistic representations of the virtues as is evident on the previous page."