Issue nº 179 - The first cardinal virtue: Faith

"by Paulo Coelho"

First we spoke in this space of the seven capital sins. The series enjoyed a wide repercussion among readers, which made me very happy. But what about the seven cardinal virtues?

The sins come before the virtues. As a wise man said, he who has not sinned has no merit in his virtue – because he has not overcome any temptation. Most holy men of any religion generally lead a dissolute or apathetic life before they dedicate themselves to the spiritual quest.

So, since the series on sins has come to an end, and following the logic of the path of Light, we shall dedicate the next columns to the seven cardinal virtues, beginning with Faith. They are derived from the sum of three theological virtues, plus another four based on Plato which were adapted by Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas (there are many divergences regarding the four complementary virtues, so I have decided to choose the more conventional list).

According to the dictionary: from the Latin word fide: confidence; religious belief; conviction with regard to someone or something; firmness in fulfilling a commitment; credit; intention; theological virtue.

According to Jesus Christ: The apostles said to the Lord, "Give us more faith." And the Lord said: "If your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you could have said to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and planted in the sea,' and it would have obeyed you!" (Luke, 17: 5-6)

According to Buddhism: "We are what we think. Through thought we build and destroy the world.

"We are what we think. Your imagination can do more harm than your worst enemy.

"But once you control your thoughts, no-one can help you so much, not even your father or your mother." (Extract from Dhammapada, a collection of some of Buddha's principal teachings)

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Paulo Coelho
http://paulocoelhoblog.com/warrioroflight