These three
Faith; hope; and loving-kindness;
these three surpass all worldly understanding:
all these await in human nature
as inclinations that are natural;
to be awakened by the grace
that ever waits within us:
as these arise, faith takes the precedence;
then follows, hope; itself precedes
the love, the charity, the loving-kindness;
yet if alas, disorder, dissolution intervene,
first, love is lost; then hope;
and last of all goes faith;
yet, when these come into their perfection,
greatest of all these, is love;
hope and faith are then the charity
which love may shower on the world around
circle on circle as the gentle rain from heaven.
*
[leaning on the writings of Josef Pieper]
poem by Michael Shepherd
Added by Poetry Lover
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