What is a Virtue?

A virtue is “a habit or established capability for performing good actions” (Farren, 2000, p.70).

Catholic virtues are classified in two categories (Catholic, 1997).

Human/Natural virtues are acquired and strengthened by performing good acts.

Supernatural virtues are given to us by God (Farren, 2000).

Virtues…

are good habits that help us do the right thing.

help guide us in what we do and in doing so they

make our lives more joyful and meaningful

(Lukefahr, 1996).

are excellences of character or disposition

(Evans, 2002).

The seven Catholic virtues that we will

talk about in this class are:• Four Cardinal:

1. Prudence

2. Justice

3. Fortitude

4. Temperance

• Three Theological:

1. Faith

2. Hope

3. Charity

What are not virtues?

The opposite of virtues are vices.

In Catholic thought the greatest of the vices are

called the seven deadly sins.

Those sins are: Pride, lust, avarice, wrath,

gluttony, sloth, and envy (Lukefahr, 1990; Farren,

2000).

They give rise to more sins (Farren, 2000) and

they are at the center of most sinful decisions

and actions (Lukefahr, 1990).

ReferencesAleksinas, M. (2006). The tree of virtues & the tree of vices. New Haven, CT: Yale University. Retrieved from http://brbl-archive.library.yale.edu/exhibitions/speculum/3v-4r-virtues-and-vices.html

Catholic Church. (1997). Catechism of the Catholic Church. New York, NY: Doubleday.

Evans, C. S. (2002). Pocket dictionary of apologetics and philosophy of religion. Leicester, UK: Inter-Varsity Press.

Farren, J. A. (2000). Catholic word book. New Haven, CT: Catholic Information Service.

Lukefahr, O. (1990). We believe…a survey of the Catholic faith. Ligouri, MO: Ligouri.

Lukefahr, O. (1996). The catechism handbook. Liguori, MO: Ligouri.