VATICAN CITY -- During Pope Francis’ Wednesday General Audience, he compared the cardinal virtue of temperance to sipping a good wine, rather than drinking it all at once. 

 After reflecting on Aristotle’s enkráteia, meaning ‘power over oneself’, the pope focused on the right of measure and enjoying moderately. 

 “The free course of impulses and total license accorded to pleasures end up backfiring on us, plunging us into a state of boredom," Francis explained. “How many people who have wanted to try everything voraciously have found themselves losing the taste for everything!”

 “To appreciate a good wine, to taste it in small sips, is better than swallowing it all in one go.”

 He continued to explain how the temperate person “does not allow a moment’s anger to ruin relationships and friendships that can then only be rebuilt with difficulty,” yet “this does not mean we always find him with a peaceful and smiling face.”

  The pope did, however, acknowledge that indignance may be necessary “but always in the right way”. “The temperate person knows that nothing is more uncomfortable than correcting another person, but he also knows that it is necessary.”

 “Everything in our world pushes to excess,” Francis continued, explaining how temperance, “combines well with Gospel values such as smallness, discretion, modesty, meekness.” 

 Pope Francis clarified that temperance does not make one “grey and joyless,” but rather “lets one enjoy the goods of life better.” 

 lw