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