The Habit Grace Hamman on Virtues and Vices
Oct 13, 2025
Grace Hamman, a writer and scholar specializing in late medieval poetry, dives deep into the fascinating world of virtues and vices. She shares how her studies reshaped her understanding of these concepts, revealing their richer meanings. Grace discusses meekness as a space for holy anger and redefines creativity, emphasizing the importance of creatureliness and humility in artistic expression. She even connects unicorn symbolism to chastity and hospitality, offering a unique medieval perspective. Grace's insights on love and virtue are both timeless and transformative.
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Medieval Virtue Language Is Richer
- Grace Hamman realized medieval virtue language carried more weight and richer meaning than modern usage.
- She traced curiosity about words like humility and meekness into a project to recover their fuller, practical sense.
Meekness Reframes Anger
- Meekness is reframed as a practice that orients anger toward God's peace rather than timidity.
- It creates interior space so anger can aim at reconciliation and not habitual wrath.
Virtues As Remedies To Vices
- The seven remedy virtues respond directly to the seven capital vices rather than mirroring cardinal/theological lists.
- These remedies sit alongside classical virtues and theological ones, forming a mixed practical tradition.
