The Theological Virtues

The theological virtues — Faith, Hope, and Charity — are gifts infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. They are called "theological" because they have God as their origin, motive, and object (CCC 1812–1813).

Faith

By faith, we believe in God and in all that he has revealed and that the Church proposes for our belief. It is the first of the theological virtues — the foundation on which hope and charity rest (CCC 1814).

Hope

By hope, we desire and confidently expect from God both eternal life and the grace needed to attain it. Hope gives firm trust in God's faithfulness and protects against both despair (giving up on God's mercy) and presumption (taking God's mercy for granted) (CCC 1817–1818).

Charity

Charity — love — is the greatest of the three theological virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13). By charity, we love God above all things for his own sake, and love neighbor as ourselves for love of God. Charity is the "form" of all the virtues — it animates and directs every other virtue toward God. Without charity, even faith is dead (CCC 1822–1824).

Infused, Not Acquired

Unlike the cardinal virtues, which are acquired through practice, the theological virtues are wholly infused — given directly by God at Baptism. They are increased through prayer, the sacraments, and the acts of faith, hope, and love made throughout life (CCC 1812).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the theological virtues be lost? Yes. Mortal sin destroys charity and therefore undermines the entire theological life. Faith and hope may remain in a weakened state after mortal sin, but charity — the life of the soul — is destroyed and must be restored through Confession (CCC 1855).