by Lioba » May 25th, 2008, 8:12 pm
The Terms Prudence, Justice and Fortitude are wellknown, even when they were not always used after the classical definitions.But Temperance sounds a bit strange to most people-it´s often connected with negation- don´t be so emotional, angry, sensual etc.; do not eat or drink so much.
It seems to be contradictional to every kind of intensity, resulting in luke-warm mediocrity.
But that´s not what Temperance as a main-virtue means.
In old allegorical paintings Temperance is shown as a woman with two jars in her hands, mixing together either hot and cold water or wine and water.
This symbolises one spect of temperance-balance, the finding of the right measure. To develop this in a persons life, self- discipline is necessary.
so temperance is in the first line something positive and active.
Pieper says, that temperance is realised by finding the right measure for everything and living according to it through discipline.
Iustitia est ad alterum.