The balance between justice and mercy has presented no small challenge to the average Christian. When today’s gospel calls for mercy, it is tempting to think that God will dole out an abundance of get-out-jail cards at the end of time, thus absolving ourselves of any responsibility for less than meritorious actions. As stated in today’s gospel, the measure that we use on others will be used on ourselves so it would be tempting to abrogate rules so that we can be excused of a few questionable decisions. Yet the same gospel that speaks of mercy speaks of responsibility, from the good shepherd doing his duty, to the wise virgins who store oil, to the many who used his talents and received more. Plato and Aristotle identified justice as one of the four cardinal virtues, the other three being prudence, fortitude, and temperance. These virtues are called “cardinal” because all other virtues “hinge” (the Latin word for hinge is cardo) on these virtues. According to the classical mind, these virtues were known by reason and there should be the goal therefore of every person. To these virtues the church recognizes the three theological virtues; faith, hope and love frequently referred to as charity. Pope Benedict wrote an encyclical on each of these theological virtues, the last was promulgated by Pope Francis. Only the foolish would attempt to distill the thought of Pope Benedict to a few lines, but it is safe to say that progress in all these virtues comes not from the exercises of one rather, the incorporation of all. Checks and balances abound, as exemplified by any good government and in the governance of our intellect keeping all the checks and balances of the seven virtues may be the best course of action.