Integration

The General Message of the Lecture

This lecture revolves around the concept of the integration of virtues in Christian life and rejects the idea that virtues are in conflict with one another. The spiritual person, as the image and likeness of God, is called to balanced perfection, not to practicing one virtue at the expense of another, but to uniting all virtues together with wisdom and discernment.

The Main Idea

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that many people think virtues are contradictory, such as kindness versus firmness, humility versus strength of personality, or love versus strictness. However, the spiritual truth is that virtues do not contradict each other; rather, they complement one another. Each virtue is used at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner.

The Spiritual and Educational Dimension

• The complete Christian person does not focus on one virtue while neglecting others, because this creates spiritual imbalance.
• The Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example, combining kindness with strength, humility with firmness, and love with justice.
• Virtue always needs wisdom to guide it: when to use it, how to use it, and with whom.
• Misunderstanding virtues such as humility or obedience leads to psychological fatigue and spiritual deviation.
• The Holy Bible provides clear examples of people who combined seemingly opposing virtues, such as David the Prophet, Moses the Prophet, Abraham the Father of the Fathers, and Joseph the Righteous.
• In upbringing, service, and church administration, it is essential to combine love with firmness, and spirituality with order.
• True virtue does not cancel the mind or discernment, but works in harmony with them.
• The life of Christian perfection is a life of balance, neither excess nor neglect, but a wise walk in all virtues together.

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