Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church recognizes three distinct categories of virtues: Cardinal Virtues, Theological Virtues, and Capital Virtues. The term cardinal virtues was first used by the 4th-century theologian Ambrose, who defined the four virtues as temperance, justice, prudence, and fortitude. These were later adopted by the Catholic Church and are considered the foundation for all other virtues. The three theological virtues, as named by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, are faith, hope, and love, with faith and hope being exclusively related to one's relationship with God. The seven capital virtues, also known as lively virtues, are those that oppose the seven deadly sins and include virtues such as chastity, temperance, and humility.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cardinal Virtues | Temperance, Justice, Prudence, Fortitude |
| Theological Virtues | Faith, Hope, Charity (Love) |
| Capital Virtues | Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Kindness, Patience, Humility |
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What You'll Learn
- The four cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance
- The three theological virtues are faith, hope and charity
- The seven capital virtues are chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience and humility
- The word 'virtue' is synonymous with goodness, but the Church uses it more precisely
- Virtues are special graces from God to the soul, subject to strengthening or weakening
The four cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance
The four cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. The term "cardinal virtues" was first used by the 4th-century theologian Ambrose, who defined these four virtues as "temperance, justice, prudence, and fortitude". Augustine of Hippo also named them as cardinal virtues, and they were later adopted by the Catholic Church.
These four virtues are considered the foundation for all other virtues and are acquired through practice and observation of older and wiser individuals. They are also referred to as "human virtues" in the Catholic Catechism.
Prudence
Prudence is the ability to distinguish between good and bad in a given situation and to take appropriate action. St. Thomas Aquinas considered prudence the primary cardinal virtue as it is concerned with intellect and good judgment.
Justice
Justice guides us in dealing equitably with others. It is about treating others fairly and regulating relationships between individuals.
Fortitude
Fortitude is courage or the strength to persevere despite temptations to sin and despair. It is about regulating one's emotions and being willing to face dangers for what is right.
Temperance
Temperance is concerned with the restraint and moderation of desires, such as food, sex, pleasure, and drink. It is about subduing sensual appetites and making proper use of God's creations.
In addition to these four cardinal virtues, the Catholic Church also recognizes three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity (or love). These theological virtues are considered the most important characteristics in a Christian's life.
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The three theological virtues are faith, hope and charity
The three theological virtues in Catholicism are faith, hope, and charity (or love). These virtues are distinct from the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude) and the seven capital virtues.
Theological virtues are inspired by the Holy Spirit and are considered gifts from God, allowing Christians to act as His children and strive for Eternal Life. They are considered the most important characteristics in a Christian's life, as explained by Paul in Romans 5:1-5 and 1 Corinthians 13:13.
Faith is described as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen," representing a firm belief in God and His revelations through the Church. It is an intellectual virtue, providing assurance and conviction in God's infallibility and the truth of His teachings.
Hope is the theological virtue that allows Christians to trust in Jesus and aspire for eternal bliss in heaven. It is a matter of perfection of the will, directing believers toward everlasting goodness.
Charity, or love, is the theological virtue that prompts Christians to love God above all else and to love their neighbours as themselves. It is the greatest of the three virtues, as stated by Saint Paul Apostle, and is seen as the perfection of all powers. Charity or love is what gives meaning to human existence and is the foundation for the other two virtues.
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The seven capital virtues are chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience and humility
The seven capital virtues, also known as the seven lively virtues, contrary virtues, or remedial virtues, are those that oppose the seven deadly sins. The seven capital virtues are chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility.
The seven capital virtues were first proposed by the 5th-century writer Prudentius in his poem "Psychomachia" ("The Contest of the Soul"), which depicted a battle between female personifications of virtues and vices, with each virtue defeating a particular vice. However, it wasn't until the year 590, when Pope Gregory I revised the list of seven deadly sins, that the corresponding list of seven capital virtues was created.
Chastity, the first of the seven capital virtues, is associated with the beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). Chastity is about integrating sexuality into a person's life in a way that aligns with their reason and respects the relationship between two individuals. It helps combat the sin of lust. Temperance, the second virtue, is concerned with restraining and moderating desires for food, sex, pleasure, and drink. It is about ensuring that these desires do not control one's will. Charity, the third virtue, is considered one of the most important characteristics in a Christian's life, along with faith and hope. These three theological virtues are considered gifts from God and are essential to Christian morality.
Diligence, the fourth virtue, encourages individuals to fulfill their duties in life, even when they become challenging or tiresome. It includes duties to one's work, home, country, church, and family. Kindness, the fifth virtue, is about showing compassion, meekness, and forgiveness towards others. Patience, the sixth virtue, is about enduring trials and temptations without succumbing to sinful anger. It involves finding strength through submission to God. Finally, humility, the seventh virtue, is about tempering the desire for personal greatness and developing an orderly love of self through appreciation for one's role in relation to God and others. Humility leads to inner peace and a closer relationship with God.
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The word 'virtue' is synonymous with goodness, but the Church uses it more precisely
The word "virtue" is often used as a synonym for "goodness". However, the Catholic Church uses the term more precisely. In Catholic writings, virtues are sometimes called theological and other times moral. The Church distinguishes between these two general categories of virtues.
The three theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love). They are called "theological" because they have to do with God, and they unite us directly with Him. They are the most important characteristics in a Christian's life. According to St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."
The four cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude (or courage), and temperance. The term "cardinal virtues" was first used by the 4th-century theologian Ambrose, who defined these four virtues as "temperance, justice, prudence, and fortitude". They are called "cardinal" because all other virtues hinge upon them. They can be acquired through practice and by observing others who are older and wiser.
In addition to these, there are the seven capital virtues, also known as the seven lively virtues, which are the opposite of the seven deadly sins. They are chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility.
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Virtues are special graces from God to the soul, subject to strengthening or weakening
The Catholic Church identifies three distinct categories of virtues: Cardinal Virtues, Theological Virtues, and Capital Virtues. Virtues are special graces given by God to the soul to accomplish particular objectives. They reside in the soul and are subject to strengthening or weakening.
The four Cardinal Virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. They are called "cardinal" because they are fundamental, with all other virtues hinging upon them. These virtues can be acquired through practice and observation of older and wiser individuals. Prudence, derived from the Latin "prudentia," is the ability to distinguish between good and bad in a given situation and take appropriate action. It guides the judgment of conscience and helps apply moral principles to specific cases without error. Justice, or "iustitia," is the moral virtue of treating others equitably and giving them their due. Temperance, or "temperantia," involves restraining and moderating desires for food, sex, pleasure, and drink. It helps in the proper use of God's creations. Fortitude, or "fortitudo," gives strength and endurance to face difficulties, conquer fear, and persevere despite temptations.
The three Theological Virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love). They are called "theological" because they relate directly to God and are considered the most important characteristics in a Christian's life. Faith is the intellectual virtue of believing in God and all that He has revealed through the Church. It is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. Hope is the theological virtue that allows Christians to trust in Jesus and desire eternal life in heaven with Him. Charity, or love, is the greatest of the theological virtues, as stated by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13.
The seven Capital Virtues, also known as lively virtues or remedial virtues, are those that oppose the seven deadly sins. They include chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility. Diligence, for example, encourages the fulfillment of duties in life, even when they become challenging.
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Frequently asked questions
The cardinal virtues are four moral virtues that form the foundation for all other virtues. They are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.
The three theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity (or love). They are called "theological" because they relate directly to God and can only be acquired as a gift from Him.
The seven capital virtues, also known as lively virtues, are those that counteract the seven deadly sins. They are chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility.
