mrharnisch.com - Chapter 15 - Life of Virtue · 2020. 3. 15. · 5/8/14 1 Chapter 15 The Life of Virtue Virtue ! Virtue ! Power that enables a person to easily perform good actions

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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