Temperance

Fr. Hardon on Temperance.
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The word temperance is derived from the Latin temperantia, which was used by Cicero to translate Plato's sophrosune, which meant restraint of the appetites and passions in accordance with right reason. As seen before, temperance is one of the four cardinal virtues, that moralists consider the most fundamental because it is the one on which the other three depend.
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In the New Testament, the Greek noun sophrosune, is variously translated as "soberness" or "sobriety" when it occurs in the Acts of the Apostles and St. Paul. (1) The adjective sophron, translated indiscriminately as "sober... temperate...discreet," is listed among the attributes proper to people of mature age and to leaders in society.

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For Christians, temperance in its physical aspects is related to the need for self-control of the body, regarded as a temple of the Holy Spirit. The teaching of the ancient Fathers of the Church, notably Origen, Ambrose, and Augustine, was synthesized in the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas, whose treatment of the moral virtues remains the classic theological work on the subject. He places temperance into context as the virtue that controls our unruly desires, including the appetite for food and drink.

As fortitude controls rashness and fear in the face of the major pains which threaten to unbalance human nature, so temperance controls desire for major pleasures. And because pleasure follows from connatural activity, so therefore are pleasures the more vehement when they attend our most natural activities. They are those which serve the individual through food and drink, and the species through intercourse of male and female, and it is with them that temperance is properly engaged. They come from the sense of touch; hence we conclude that temperance, in its most precise sense, is concerned with tactile pleasures.

In its broader aspect, therefore, temperance spans the control of all pleasures, but by common usage the word is applied to restraint in the taking of food, and mainly of drink. A familiar synonym is sobriety, in the reference to a person being "sober" when he is not under the influence of intoxicants.
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Moral theology teaches there are two ways of practicing temperance in the use of alcohol, either by moderation or by total abstinence. Both are approved by centuries of Christian practice, much as the practice of chastity is sanctioned by Christian morality, either by total abstinence, as with those who vow themselves to a life of celibacy, or by moderation, among the millions who marry and confine the enjoyment of sex pleasure to the married state. - Fr. Hardon Archives

David

Before visiting the United States.

After his visit to the United States:

That's what Martinis and fine dining will do when you just sit around all day.


H/T Paula

Meek and humble of heart...

Learn from me...
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Christ is the teacher, as well as the example and model of meekness and humility, as are the saints who imitated him - despite the fact no one can really ever take the last place from him, he who became least in the Kingdom of God for our sakes.
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Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.
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Obviously I lack genuine humility and meekness, as many of my blog posts demonstrate.  One good thing about blogging is that it exposes our weaknesses and faults rather conveniently - whether we like it or not - albeit unnoticed by ourselves at the time.  If we are the least bit objective about ourselves, we can get some idea of how bereft of meekness and humility, even charity, we are by the critique we make of one another's positions, statements, and/or the person himself.   
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The advantage of seeing the mote in our brother's eye is that we just might be aware enough to realize the log in our own eye.  I don't know about you, but many times, when I notice or comment about something annoying in another, more often than not I'm guilty of the same thing - either coincidentally or I acted thus in the past.  Of course, there but for the grace of God - that meaning; if I do not have such and such a fault or irritating habit I notice in another - then the cause underlying my imperious attitude may well be unacknowledged envy or jealousy.  Which returns us to consider the subject at hand - the virtues opposed to such vices - meekness and humility.  A humble person simply cannot be jealous or envious.
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From time to time as I look forward to Lent, I want to use the blog to reflect upon the virtue of humility.  Don't be fooled by me - I am not humble, but I seek to learn of Christ who is.  As I meditate and study, I will print a few things the spiritual masters have taught - for our mutual edification perhaps - but mainly because I think better when I write or paint.  Pope Benedict XVI, in an allocution for Epiphany alluded to the necessity of meekness and humility in the life of the Christian.
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People do not accept Christ's invitation to come to him when they are too self-assured and display the "pretentiousness of understanding reality perfectly well and the presumption of already having come to a definite judgment about things, which makes their hearts closed and insensitive to the novelty of God," he said.  What is missing in the world, he said, is authentic humility and courage, which allow people to recognize and put their trust in what is truly great, "even if it is manifested in a defenseless baby." - Source
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These are incredibly important words to ponder, especially in our times.  The Holy Father echoes Fr. Alfred Delp, S.J. in one of his letters from prison:
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"Are we prepared to promote conditions in which the living contact with God can be reestablished?  For our lives today have become godless to the point of complete vacuity.  God is no longer with us in the conscious sense of the word.  He is denied, ignored, excluded from every claim to have a part in our daily life." - Meditation, Magnificat, January 8.  (The entire entry ought to be read as it really corroborates with the Pope's statement quite well.  Alfred Delp: Prison Writings)
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The Holy Father stated that insensitivity, smugness, and pretension keep people from experiencing the true joy and love found in Jesus Christ, who is meek and humble of heart.  Think about that.
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"Meekness.  Our Lord rightly associates meekness with humility, since the former cannot be practiced without the latter.
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Meekness is a complex virtue which comprises three principal elements: a) a certain self-mastery, which forestalls and checks impulses of anger; from this point of view it is related to temperance; b) tolerance of the failings of others, which demands patience and, therefore the virtue of fortitude (courage); c) forgiveness of injuries, and benevolence towards all, even our enemies; in this respect it is inclusive of charity.  from this respect we see that it is a combination of virtues, rather than a distinct virtue." - Tanquerey, Spiritual Life, Moral Virtues, III: 1154,1155
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Notice how the Holy Father fits this description of meekness.  
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 Art:  Esteban Sampzon: "Christ of the humility and patience."