Faith, Hope and Charity

Fides, Spes and Caritas (Latin for faith, hope and love, the three cardinal virtues of Christianity ) are three legendary virgins and Märtyrinnen who have died, according to tradition at the time of Emperor Hadrian ( 117-138 ). They are venerated together with her mother Sophia as a saint. Their names are Roman model personifications of virtues and refer to the Song of Songs of love in 1 Corinthians 13.12-13 EU.

Tradition

According to tradition, Sophia was a Christian widow from Milan, who shared all their wealth with the poor after the death of her very wealthy man. She left Milan with her daughters to travel to Rome. There she suffered in the persecution of Christians under Emperor Hadrian with her daughters martyrdom.

The three daughters suffered according to legend, first martyrdom. They should have been buried by her mother, who was executed three days later, on the Via Appia in the St. Callistus catacombs in Rome. However, according to other reports, they are pilgrims under its Greek name Pistis ( Πίστις ), Elpis ( Ελπίς ) and agape ( Αγαπή ) to be buried on the Via Aurelia. Your Passio was transferred into many languages ​​, their worship is attested in Rome from the 6th century. The historicity of the narrated events is, however, doubtful.

Art

In art we find the representation of the widow and her three daughters are often at Christ's feet, such as in Agnes Chapel in the Cathedral of Cologne on a fresco from the 14th century. Character of Fides are chalice, cross, book and burning candle, she is dressed in red, Spes in green clothes carrying an armature Caritas ' character is the flaming heart, she is dressed in white.

Faith of Agen

To be distinguished from Fides, the sister of Spes and Caritas, is Fides from Agen, the martyred by 300 in Agen in Aquitaine.