Rachel Evans
In the Catholic faith, a virtue is a habit or disposition that helps one reach eternal union with God. There are three distinct categories of virtues: Cardinal Virtues, Theological Virtues, and Capital Virtues. The four Cardinal Virtues are prudence (or wisdom)justice, fortitude (or courage), and temperance (or self-control). These are considered the foundation for all other virtues and can be acquired through practice and observation. The three Theological Virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love), and they are considered gifts from God, given to us at Baptism. These virtues unite us with God and lead us back to Him. Charity, the most excellent of the Theological Virtues, is the love of God and our neighbour. It is believed that by practicing these virtues, Catholics can strive for a good life on earth and eternal life in heaven.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cardinal Virtues | Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude |
| Theological Virtues | Faith, Hope, Charity |
| Cardinal Virtues as defined by St. Thomas Aquinas | Prudence, Justice, Fortitude |
| Natural Virtues | Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance |
| Supernatural Virtues | Faith, Hope, Charity |
| Theological Virtues as defined by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 | Faith, Hope, Love (Charity) |
| Capital Virtues | Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Kindness, Patience, Humility |
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What You'll Learn
The four cardinal virtues
In the Catholic faith, virtue is defined as a habit superadded to a faculty of the soul, disposing it to elicit with readiness acts conformable to our ratio. The word virtue is derived from the Latin 'virtus', which signifies courage or manliness.
- Prudence (or wisdom): This is the ability to form correct judgments and discern the appropriate course of action in a given situation. It is not to be confused with timidity or duplicity.
- Justice: This virtue is concerned with giving God and one's neighbour what is rightfully their due. It involves treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of personal feelings.
- Fortitude (or courage): Fortitude is the virtue that enables one to conquer fear and face difficulties and persecutions. It provides the strength to stand up for a just cause, even at personal risk.
- Temperance (or self-control): Temperance moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures that desires remain within honourable limits.
These four cardinal virtues are essential in Catholic theology and provide a framework for ethical behaviour and a virtuous life.
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The three theological virtues
Faith
Faith is the virtue that enables Catholics to believe in God and believe what He has revealed to them as truth because He is Truth Himself. By accepting that He has revealed Himself through His Word, which is incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ, Catholics also acknowledge the Truth in everything Jesus revealed through His words and actions. This faith compels Catholics to turn their lives over to Him and act accordingly.
Hope
Hope is the grace of trusting that God will be true to His promise to save us from eternal death if we turn to Him in repentance. It is the virtue by which we desire and seek our ultimate good and happiness, which is eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. When everything else is going wrong on Earth, it is hope that keeps Catholics focused on the eternal goal beyond this life. It enables them to trust in all of Christ's promises and do God's will even when it is hard because they know they will be rewarded for it.
Charity
Charity, or love, is considered the greatest of the three theological virtues. It is the virtue that allows Catholics to fulfill the two greatest commandments revealed by Jesus. Charity is a choice to take loving action toward a person regardless of how one feels in a particular situation. It differs from faith as it regards God not under the aspect of truth but of good, and it differs from hope as it regards God not as our good but as good in Himself. Charity binds everything together in perfect harmony and gives life to all the moral virtues.
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The seven capital virtues
In Catholic theology, the seven capital virtues, also known as the seven lively virtues, contrary virtues, or remedial virtues, are those that stand in opposition to the seven deadly sins. They are:
- Chastity
- Temperance
- Charity
- Diligence
- Kindness
- Patience
- Humility
The three theological virtues, on the other hand, are considered gifts from God, given to us at Baptism, and their purpose is to lead us back to God. The three theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love).
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The role of charity
Charity is one of the seven virtues in Catholic theology and is considered the most excellent of the virtues. It is a theological virtue, given to us by God at Baptism, and its purpose is to lead us back to God. Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake and our neighbours as ourselves for the love of God.
Charity is a two-fold grace. Its primary effect is moving the will to love God fervently and above all things, and its secondary effect is intensifying love for our neighbour. Charity is superior to all the virtues, and it is the first of the theological virtues. The Apostle says, "If I have not charity, I am nothing". Charity is the ultimate perfection of the human spirit because it both glorifies and reflects the nature of God.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines "charity" as "the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbour as ourselves for the love of God". Thomas Aquinas understands charity as "the friendship of man for God", which unites us to God. He further holds that "the habit of charity extends not only to the love of God, but also to the love of our neighbour".
Charity upholds and purifies our human ability to love, and raises it to the supernatural perfection of divine love. The practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity, which "binds everything together in perfect harmony". Charity is the source and the goal of Christian practice. It is the form of the virtues; it articulates and orders them.
The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy.
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The importance of faith
Faith is an important virtue in the Catholic faith. It is one of the three theological virtues, along with hope and charity (or love). These virtues are considered "theological" because they are believed to be gifts from God at Baptism, leading followers back to God.
Faith is an intellectual virtue, a firm belief in God and the truth of the Holy Mother Church. It is described as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen," and is considered a supernatural light that illuminates the intellect. This virtue is not earned through good deeds but is a pure gift from God, and it can be deepened through prayer.
The four cardinal virtues, on the other hand, are human, natural, or moral virtues. They are prudence (or wisdom), justice, fortitude (or courage), and temperance (or self-control). These virtues are gained through human efforts and can be acquired through practice and observation of older and wiser individuals.
The seven capital virtues, also known as the seven lively virtues, stand in opposition to the seven deadly sins. They include chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility.
Theological virtues, including faith, are considered supernatural virtues that cannot be earned through human effort but are given by God's grace. They unite followers directly to God and are essential for achieving eternal happiness and union with God.
In summary, faith is a fundamental theological virtue in the Catholic faith, representing a firm belief in God and His revelations. It is a gift from God that guides followers towards eternal happiness and a deeper connection with the divine.
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Frequently asked questions
The four cardinal virtues are prudence (or wisdom), justice, fortitude (or courage), and temperance (or self-control). They are called "cardinal" because it comes from the Latin "cardo", which means "hinge". They are the foundation for all other virtues.
The three theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love). They are called "theological" because they are gifts given to us by God at Baptism, and their purpose is to lead us back to God.
Cardinal virtues are human virtues that can be acquired through practice and by observing others. The theological virtues, on the other hand, are supernatural virtues that cannot be gained through human effort but are given to us by God's grace.
The virtues help Catholics habitually do what is good and are the building blocks for Christian moral living. The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God and to attain eternal life in heaven.
