Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church recognizes three distinct categories of virtues: Cardinal Virtues, Theological Virtues, and Capital Virtues. Virtues are considered special graces given by God to the soul to accomplish specific objectives. They are subject to strengthening or weakening and can be acquired through practice and observation of older, wiser individuals. The four Cardinal Virtues, which form the foundation for the others, are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. These human virtues are associated with making good decisions, dealing equitably with others, courage, and subduing sensual appetites, respectively. The three Theological Virtues, which are considered the most important characteristics in a Christian's life, are faith, hope, and charity (or love). These pertain primarily to one's relationship with God and can only be practiced with divine grace, according to Thomas Aquinas. Developing virtues is a challenging process that requires effort and self-denial, akin to strengthening muscles through consistent exercise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Consistency | Doing good deeds consistently, easily, and joyfully |
| Growth | Exercising virtues, like strengthening muscles |
| Holiness | Turning away from sin |
| Prayer | Asking for God's grace and favour |
| Devotion | Turning to Mary to remain anchored in divine grace |
| Faith | Believing in God's love and revealed truths |
| Hope | Trusting God will save us from eternal death |
| Charity | Moving the will to love God and intensifying love for our neighbour |
| Justice | Dealing equitably with others |
| Temperance | Subduing sensual appetites and making proper use of God's creatures |
| Fortitude | Persevering despite temptations to sin and despair |
| Humility | |
| Patience | |
| Obedience | |
| Chastity | |
| Piety | |
| Veracity |
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What You'll Learn
Faith, hope, and charity are the foundation of Christian life
Faith, hope, and charity are the three theological virtues that form the foundation of Christian life. They are intertwined with one another and shape a Christian's relationship with God and their interactions with others.
Faith
Faith is a supernatural virtue that enables Christians to believe in God and trust in His promises. It is not blind but is based on the certainty that God is truthful and faithful. It is a gift from God, and it is necessary for our human nature. Through faith, we can make sense of the world and find answers to life's questions. Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God, and it leads to hope and charity.
Hope
Hope is a confident assurance that comes from faith, enabling Christians to move forward with peace and joy, trusting in God's plan and provision. It is an intentional act of entrusting one's life to God and seeking to align one's will with His truths. Hope is not mere optimism but a divine virtue that sustains and frees us from discouragement and selfishness.
Charity
Charity, or love, is a divine virtue that inclines us to love God above all else and our neighbors as ourselves. It is expressed through acts of mercy and kindness, and it is exemplified in the lives of saints like Mother Teresa. Charity is the outcome of faith and hope, as we are moulded and guided by them to embrace the qualities of selflessness and service.
These virtues are not abstract concepts but practical expressions of our union with Christ, as we strive to live a life of virtue in His image. They are intertwined and work together to guide Christians on their spiritual journey, leading to salvation through God's grace.
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Exercise virtues like a muscle
Exercise is necessary for building and strengthening muscles. Similarly, exercising virtues is essential for developing and reinforcing them. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, virtue is defined as "an habitual and firm disposition to do good". This implies that virtue demands more than just occasional good deeds or acts of kindness. It requires consistency and perseverance in performing virtuous actions.
The seven Catholic virtues, encompassing both theological and cardinal virtues, serve as a foundation for leading a virtuous life. The three theological virtues, comprising faith, hope, and charity (love), are considered supernatural and are infused into the soul at Baptism. These virtues enable Christians to cultivate a relationship with God and live in accordance with His teachings.
On the other hand, the four cardinal virtues, namely prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice, are often referred to as "human virtues". They provide practical guidelines for moral living. For instance, prudence guides us in making sound judgments, while justice assists us in treating others with fairness and equity. Temperance helps us in controlling our desires and passions, while fortitude gives us the strength to persevere through trials and resist temptations.
To exercise virtues like a muscle, it is crucial to understand that virtue development takes time and dedication. Just as an out-of-shape individual starting a jogging routine may initially struggle, strengthening moral muscles can be challenging. However, with consistent practice, virtues can be cultivated and integrated into daily life. This may involve identifying specific virtues one wants to develop and focusing on them through prayer, meditation, or intentional actions.
Additionally, it is important to recognize that virtues are interconnected. Exercising one virtue often engages and strengthens others. For example, practicing charity can enhance one's ability to demonstrate justice or temperance. Therefore, a holistic approach to virtue development is encouraged, where individuals strive to nurture all virtues simultaneously, understanding that progress in one virtue can facilitate growth in others.
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Overcome vices with virtues
The Catholic Church identifies seven capital vices: pride, covetousness or greed, lust, anger or wrath, gluttony, envy, and sloth. These vices are considered deep-seated habits that lead individuals to shun good and indulge in evil. They are the root cause of many other sins and vices, and overcoming them is indispensable to spiritual life.
The Catechism explains that removing these ingrained dispositions or vices requires much effort and self-denial, and that growth in virtue is like strengthening one's moral muscles. Just as exercising strengthens the body's muscles, exercising virtue strengthens the soul.
To overcome vices and grow in virtue, one must develop a thorough understanding of the vices and pray for the grace and discipline to overcome them. Each vice has a corresponding virtue that can be cultivated to counteract its negative influence. For example, the vice of lust can be overcome by cultivating the virtue of chastity, while the sin of greed can be overcome by practicing generosity. Similarly, sloth can be conquered through diligence, and envy through brotherly love or charity.
By focusing on virtues instead of sins and prayerfully practicing them, individuals can weaken the grip of vice and develop a more virtuous disposition. This transformation is attainable through God's grace and by following the practices encouraged by the saints. It is also important to be gentle with oneself, as change takes time and effort.
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The importance of prayer
Prayer is an integral part of Catholic life and worship. It is a deeply personal and individual act, and yet it is also a communal act, with liturgy being a form of "public work" done by a group on behalf of the larger community.
The purpose of life is to know God and to love Him, and prayer is the means by which we can achieve this. Through prayer, we can come to know God more intimately and understand ourselves better. As St. Augustine wrote, "true prayer is nothing but love". The more we pray, the more we can experience God's love for us, and the happier and less anxious we become.
Prayer is also a way to protect ourselves from deception. Without prayer, we are open to the subtle deceptions of the Evil One, which can lead to division and animosity in our relationships. Fervent and persistent prayer is the only defence against this.
Jesus taught his disciples to persist in prayer, to "pester God". He promised that "ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you". However, this does not mean that prayer is a way to manipulate God or that we can expect our wishes to be granted if we simply say the right words. Rather, prayer is about developing a relationship with God, and learning to trust in His promises.
Developing virtues is an important part of the Catholic faith, and prayer is key to this process. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines virtue as "an habitual and firm disposition to do good". By praying, we can nourish the virtues of faith, hope, and charity, which form the foundation of the Christian life. We can ask God for help in growing these virtues, and in living virtuously in our relationships and daily lives.
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Grace is the cornerstone of Catholicism
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines grace as "favour, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature, and of eternal life". Grace is a gift from God, and Catholics believe that it is what makes the soul holy, giving it supernatural life. This is called sanctifying grace. If a person dies with sanctifying grace in their soul, they can live in heaven. However, if a person dies without sanctifying grace in their soul, they will face an eternity of spiritual death, or utter separation from God.
Sanctifying grace is distinct from actual grace. While sanctifying grace stays in the soul, actual grace is transient. It acts on the soul from the outside, giving a person a "push" or "encouragement" to seek out and keep sanctifying grace. Both types of grace are necessary for salvation.
Catholics believe that it is only through God's grace that they can grow in virtue and holiness. This growth in virtue requires exercising virtue. Just as a tennis player needs to keep playing tennis to improve their skills, Catholics must nourish and exercise their powers of the soul to mature in their love for God and grow in virtue.
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Frequently asked questions
Virtues are special graces given by God to the soul for the accomplishment of particular objectives. They are divided into two categories: theological virtues and moral virtues. Theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity, while moral virtues include prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude.
Growing in virtue requires exercising virtue. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines virtue as "an habitual and firm disposition to do good". This means that a person who wants to grow in virtue should consistently do good deeds and choose good over evil in their daily actions. Prayer and devotion to Jesus and Mary are also essential in growing in virtue as a Catholic.
One practical way to grow in virtue is to identify your vices and actively push against them by practicing the opposite virtue. For example, if you struggle with pride, focus on regularly exercising humility. Additionally, reading the Word of God, receiving the Sacraments, and serving your neighbor through works of charity can help you grow in the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
