Temperance
You’ve heard the phrase “everything in moderation.” The person
who can achieve that is strong in the cardinal virtue of temperance.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “Temperance is the
moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance
in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts
and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable.” (CCC
41
1809)
Temperance is what helps us from overindulging – in food, drink, spending
money, sex, wasting time on the Internet, you name it! It’s not that
any of these are necessarily bad, but even too much of a good thing can
turn into a bad thing. This is where temperance comes in.
The Catechism continues: “The temperate person directs the sensitive
appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: ‘Do
not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires
of your heart.’ Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament:
‘Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites.’ In the New
Testament it is called ‘moderation’ or ‘sobriety.’ We ought ‘to live sober,
upright and godly lives in this world.’” (CCC 1809)
The Catechism ends its section on temperance with a quote from St.
Augustine. “To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one’s
heart, with all one’s soul and with all one’s efforts; from this it comes
about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No
misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only God (and
this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised
by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).” (CCC 1809)
So, if you’re having trouble saying no to the pleasures of the world,
practice your temperance!
For further study:
CCC 1809