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5/8/14
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Chapter 15 The Life of Virtue
Virtue n Virtue
n Power that enables a person to easily perform good actions and to avoid bad actions.
n Natural Virtue n Acquired through repeated action
n Supernatural Virtue n Given to us by God
n A virtuous life is a well ordered life.
Virtue n St. Thomas Aquinas teaches us that true
happiness is based in our virtues. n “Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a
good attained by man’s own will.”
Cardinal Virtues n Cardinal Virtues
n These are the foundation for leading a good life.
n There are 4 Cardinal Virtues n Prudence n Justice n Temperance n Fortitude
Cardinal Virtues n 1) Prudence
n The top cardinal virtue n the basis of all other virtues
n Enables us to determine what actions are required in certain situations and helps us to take action.
n The person who uses good judgment at all times has the virtue of prudence.
Cardinal Virtues n 2) Justice
n Prompts us to give to others what is due to them.
n Examples: n Pay debts n Keep promises n Obey laws n Be trusted n Respect property
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Cardinal Virtues n St. Thomas More
n Chancellor of England n Good example of prudence &
justice. n Refused to sign the Act of
Supremacy and accept King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England and was beheaded
n Said: “I die the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”
n Patron saint of lawyers
Cardinal Virtues n 3) Fortitude
n Enables us to confront dangers with courage & hope.
n Able to act calmly & reasonably even in the face of great danger.
n Catholic martyrs exhibit this virtue.
Cardinal Virtues n 4) Temperance
n Enables us to control our passion & desires.
n Allows us to act moderately & reasonably
n Applies to all aspect of our lives. n Good Balance
The Seven Moral Virtues n Seven Moral Virtues:
n There are seven other virtues that stem from the Cardinal virtues that help us fight against the seven capital vices or seven deadly sins.
Moral Virtues
n 1) Humility n Opposed to pride n Enables us to see ourselves in a correct or accurate way.
n Not believing we are better than we are. n Not believing we are worse than we are.
Moral Virtues n 2) Liberality
n opposed to greed/covetousness n Enables us to live freely of want. n Acting generously with one’s gifts. n Responding to the needs of
others.
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Moral Virtues n 3) Chastity
n Virtue opposed to lust. n The purest love is given most
completely to the spouse in marriage, or in the case of priests and religious, to God in loving abstinence & celibacy
n Real love is free, total,
faithful, and fruitful. n If it does not have these qualities,
it is not truly love
Moral Virtues
n 4) Meekness n Virtue opposed to anger n Demonstrates patience and control of our strength & anger
n Related to fortitude
Moral Virtues
n 5) Moderation / sobriety n Virtue opposed to gluttony n Enables one to use food and drink sensibly. n Stems from temperance.
Moral Virtues n 6) Brotherly Love
n Virtue opposed to envy n Enables one to show true
love for one’s neighbor. n Stems from justice
Moral Virtues n 7) Diligence
n Virtue opposed to sloth n Enables us to do our
work and carry out our religious duties.
n Stems from prudence
Vices and opposing Virtues
Vices Virtues Pride Humility
Covetousness Liberality Lust Chastity
Anger Meekness Gluttony Moderation & Sobriety
Envy Brotherly Love Sloth Diligence
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Theological Virtues n Theological Virtues:
n These virtues are given to us by God, not by repetition of actions
n These are the supernatural virtues
n God’s grace helps us exercise these virtues.
n They are: n Faith, Hope, and Charity
Theological Virtues n 1) Faith
n Virtue that helps us believe all that God has revealed to us through Christ & His Church.
n Faith is necessary to believe the mysteries of the Church n Ex: the Holy Trinity
Theological Virtues n 2) Hope
n Virtue by which we trust in God’s promise of eternal salvation
n God will give the graces needed to get into heaven.
Theological Virtues n 3) Charity:
n Virtue by which we love God above all things and our neighbor as we would ourselves
n Remember that we have all been created in God’s image.
“And now there remain faith, hope,
and charity, these three: but the
greatest of these is charity.”
-1 Corinthians 13:13