The Virtue of Self-Control (Part II)

By Engr. Carlos Cornejo

Some would call it discipline, others refer to it as willpower but I prefer to associate it with the virtue of temperance which is the Christian version of discipline or self-control.  We can call it discipline, willpower, self-control or temperance and they all mean the same thing which is regulating our bad desires.  The Christian definition is more accurate and all embracing.  Temperance is one of the cardinal virtues defined by Plato and Aristotle and adapted by the Catholic Church.  The word “cardinal” comes from the Latin word “cardo” which means hinge.  The other cardinal virtues are prudence, justice and fortitude.  The cardinal virtues hold the other virtues such as patience, obedience, social justice like a hinge.

The official Christian definition of temperance is a virtue that moderates attraction and desire for pleasure.  St. Thomas Aquinas calls it a “disposition of the mind which binds the passions”.   St. Thomas’ definition means controlling our feelings (or passions) by making it subject to our intellect or reason.  Psychologists would define it as self-control or the ability to control behaviors in order to avoid temptations and to achieve goals.

The Christian definition is more accurate because it goes directly to the object that needs to be controlled, which is the desire for pleasure.  The natural pleasures of man are eating, drinking, and sex.  They are called natural because we are born having them. The artificial pleasures are taking drugs, watching videos, playing games, etc.  Temperance is directed to both kinds of pleasure.  We have to eat and drink to nourish our bodies.  We need sex to procreate and give birth to the next generation or to multiply our race as God has commanded.   But these natural activities should only be done in the right way.  Overeating or gluttony is the abuse of eating.  Getting drunk is the abuse of drinking.  Sex outside marriage is the wrong use of sex.  They are wrong not only because they have unhealthy consequences to our bodies or unhealthy consequences to relationships in the case of sex outside marriage, but also because they go against our human nature.  If we are animals then these things would not be an issue.

The wrong use of our natural human activities is prohibited in the Ten Commandments.  “Thou shall not kill” (the 5^th Commandment) commands us not to do actions against our health such as overeating or gluttony which kills our bodies little by little. And “Thou shall not commit adultery” (the 6^th Commandment) commands us to be faithful to our spouse.  Violations against the Ten Commandments are offenses against our human nature as well as an offense towards God because the commandments are God’s house rules for us.  They are the guardrails or fences that God provided for us as we journey in this life.  They are for our own good for two reasons.  First, the fences are there so that we will reach our true home of heaven that God has prepared for us in the next life.  Second, it helps us avoid a miserable life in this world which is a direct consequence of our sins.  The main cause of our miseries are our sins.  Christianity is God’s answer to remedy our miseries.  That’s why Christ came to save us from our sins.  God is ultimate answer to life’s problems and troubles.  The trouble with us is we disobey God’s rules and as a consequence mess up our life.  And then instead of returning to Him and “remain in His love” (John 15:10) we go back to the very things that created the mess.  Albert Einstein would call it “insanity” which is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.  It’s time to try God and you will never be disappointed.  “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)