Towards an Objective Spiritual Life

Extract

With the theological virtues, we move away from ourselves to attain the highest obj ect set before human action. Wonderful as it seems, God becomes our object. No one calls in question the fact that the theological virtues are preeminent and people certainly do not dream of denying that they have a part to play in the spiritual life. It is doubtful, however, whether they are cultivated with the care they deserve and whether they are actually directed towards their object. Let us consider this direction which it is important they should take in practice.

Among the different virtues, faith bears a strongly marked objective character. Its purpose is to attach the mind to the truths God has revealed. These truths in no sense derive from us and are certainly not the fruit of our meditations. God has revealed them and they have entered into us through the medium of hearing.