Hinge

A door is next to useless without a hinge. Life is next to useless without virtue.

The ancient Greek philosophers bequeathed to us the cardinal virtues. The word comes from Latin – meaning hinge:

You simply cannot open or close a door without a hinge.

You simply cannot open the door of life without virtue. You simply cannot close the door on vice without virtue.

Yes, life is precisely this:

Prudence

Temperance

Justice

Fortitude.

Prudence, the ability to see the truth of things, requires of us that we work with others, gathering wisdom from various fonts.

Temperance is harmony and tries to enjoy the more sensual things of life with due order, closing the door to the ever-present temptation to pervert the beauty of sensuality, thereby delivering inner and outer harmony.

Fear is a predominant emotion, entirely necessary in the face of danger and difficulty. Yet we are able to call upon our inner depths and let courage be aroused to face reality.

Justice, that profoundly rich virtue which should not be compressed or restricted to social justice alone. Justice asks, ‘What do I owe you? What do you owe me’?

Our virtue has to go deeper (Matthew 5).

Amen.