One of the virtues that help us live a good life is that of temperance. However, when we hear that term, most of us think it means saying no to alcohol; some branches of Christianity might think it means perhaps saying a flat “no” to various pleasures, be it having a pint of Newcastle with your burger, playing a game of cards or bingo, or dancing with someone. Temperance is easy to misunderstand.

At seminary, we took a course called “The Christian Virtues.” We hold there to be seven virtues. Four are those we possess simply by being human: justice, temperance, fortitude and prudence. Christians believe there are three more we possess through baptism: the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. It was one of the best courses we had, and helped clarify a lot.

Talking about them all might make a nice Lenten series, and it is certainly more than one would just cover in a blog, but the other day the reading for Mass was from the first letter to Timothy, chapter 3, verses 1-13. Click here if you want to read it word-for-word. The reading lists attributes that a bishop and deacon should have. It seemed an appropriate moment to talk a bit about temperance, as this can help us greatly in living out our faith. We aren’t all called to be bishops, deacons (or priests)! But we are all called to holiness through our baptism.

So, I looked into my notes from the virtues course, and shared some thoughts on temperance, and having a good Christian understanding of it. Here’s the text of my homily for that day:

This past weekend at our festival, there was a trivia event which had various questions about myself and Father Tim. And among the questions included hobbies; one of mine being playing poker; and another question asked what our favorite beverages (enjoyed responsibly and in moderation) were; Fr. Tim enjoys an occasional scotch, and I enjoy a Smithwicks, Corona or Newcastle ale. Later on in the day I headed over to the bingo tent to call bingo. A woman commented how she enjoyed that, and though I can’t remember her exact words, I think she mentioned how it wasn’t something you’d see at a Lutheran or Protestant festival.

That comment struck with me as I was reflecting on the check-list of attributes of a bishop and deacon because temperance is one of the virtues we view as helping us to lead a good, Christian life. But if you use that word “temperance,” what comes to mind for many is teetotalism – the complete abstinence from any drink. Or some think of it as entirely abstaining from all pleasures related to the appetites, such as alcohol or gambling; and even in a marriage some took it too far and limit marital relations, or see even some minor sin in the sexual act.

But to a Catholic way of thinking, temperance means finding the mean – going the right length, and no further. We are not into teetotalism, such as Islam, which requires no drinking at all; or Mormonism, which adds tobacco and caffeine to the mix as well. Certainly it might be right for some to abstain from such things if they have a problem, such as an alcoholic, but hopefully even the alcoholic can understand that it is okay to enjoy some things when one finds the proper middle road. Ironically, the person who takes the teetotalism route can inadvertently sin, thinking what’s right for him is right for the whole world. So you have someone who chooses not to drink, because they may have had a problem or just don’t care to drink. That might be a good decision for them. But if they cross over into thinking what’s right for them is right for the whole world, and look down on others who have a pint with their steak or who light up a cigar after dinner, this isn’t practicing Christian temperance.

Some also misunderstand the term, and apply it just to drinking. I’ve never understood why some branches of Christianity get so bent out of shape about having a beer, allowing people to dance, or enjoy an evening of bingo or cards. Temperance in the true Christian way has a broader meaning. One of my favorite professors put it this way: some people make the solo-flex the center of their life. I suppose you could substitute the shopping mall, or the golf course too. Pleasures are broad. But often even some Catholics can fall into the trap of thinking like the Puritans: all pleasure is bad.

Use of reason with the Holy Spirit’s guidance is the key, which people can lose sight of on both extremes. On one end you have those who might think everything is bad (the Puritan) and on the other those who have unrestrained appetites; the stereotypical “Animal House” so to speak. When we use reason, we are able to keep the pleasures in check so they never defeat what we want to be as a human being; a healthy, well-balanced individual who also has a proper focus towards his or her heavenly home. The healthy, well-balanced human being doesn’t repress all of his or her appetites, unless there is, for that individual, a specific problem (e.g., alcoholism, addiction, etc.). Things have their proper place – which is why someone who engages in recreational sexual relationships for instance, and says “it’s none of your business and doesn’t harm anyone,” doesn’t realize they are using their bodies for something that they were never intended for, and they also harm the other person by using them as an object to satisfy their desire; they lack reason and are ruled by instinct, just wanting satisfaction of a desire. This can even happen in marriage when one party is consumed with sensualism and just sees the other as there to satisfy a desire. But also for one who isn’t open to reason, and sees sin in having that expression of love a part of their marriage – well – they have a problem too. God gave us this beautiful act to not only procreate,but to be a sign of a couple’s love – even when children do not result, which is why there are natural moments where a couple cannot have children.

Not all of us are called to be bishops or deacons as we hear in the letter to Timothy today; but we are all called to holiness. Assisting us in the journey is the virtue of temperance. As we journey down the road of life, may we strive to truly grow in that virtue each and every day, not necessarily not to enjoying the foam on the Michelob, but truly having a balance in our lives so that our pleasures and appetites don’t ever get out of hand and take us away from getting to our final destination: heaven.