1. What is virtue?

2. What is Virtue?
A habitual and firm disposition to do the good, according to Thomas Aquinas
But what does that mean?

3. Habitual: “habits” are formed from repeated action
What is Virtue?
Habitual: “habits” are formed from repeated action
Firm: Deeply ingrained
Disposition: Way of being
Ordered toward the good (of self, others, and all things)

4. What does it mean to be a virtuous person?

5. What does it mean to be a virtuous person?
Is virtue a one-time action?
Will you one day suddenly become virtuous?
Will it happen if you don’t want it to?

6. How do you become a virtuous person?

7. So how do you become a virtuous person?
Practice!

8. “We are what we repeatedly do
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle

9. Come Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

10. What is virtue?

11. Cardinal and Theological
Virtues
Cardinal and Theological

12. Cardinal and Theological Virtues
Based on Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, Thomas Aquinas identifies 4 cardinal virtues and 3 theological virtues.
Cardinal: cardo, Latin = “hinge”
The cardinal virtues are the 4 virtues that are the source of all other virtues
AKA the 4 virtues that all other virtues “hinge” on or the “door” to all other virtues
Temperance, Fortitude, Justice, Prudence

13. Cardinal and Theological Virtues
Theological: theos, Greek = “God” - Faith, Hope, Charity (Love)
The theological virtues are the 3 virtues that come from God’s grace
They cannot be “earned” but can still be developed through developing one’s openness to God (and therefore one’s openness to receiving God’s grace)

14. Cardinal Virtues

15. Temperance - CCC 1809
Being able to order your passions according to what is good, true, and beautiful
You are temperate when your feelings and passions react properly in respect to the things around you
It’s about controlling yourself

16. Fortitude - CCC 1808 Persevering when the going gets tough
It’s when you can pursue what is good no matter what the obstacles
Courage is fortitude in the face of fear
Endurance is fortitude in the face of pain
Patience is fortitude in the face of annoyance
Perseverance is fortitude in the face of boredom

17. Justice - CCC 1807
Regulates and governs your relationships with other people
Giving other persons what is due to them
What’s due to them?
If everyone is made in the image of God, then _______________ is always due

18. Prudence - CCC 1806 The virtue of “reason in action”
The ability to discern how to act in all situations
Thinking about our actions in a way that takes the whole situation into consideration

19. Theological Virtues

20. Faith - CCC
Acknowledging that there is more to reality than what we can know
Recognizing that “more” when we see it
Holding on to it with everything we’ve got!

21. Hope - CCC
Assurance in the fact that you can’t do it all, but that God can - finding comfort in your dependence on Him.
The way that you continue to be able to pursue God and holiness even though they seem unattainable and impossible

22. Charity (Love) - CCC 1822-1829 The ability to love as God loves
Charity is when you go from loving God because of what he does for you, to loving God simply because of who God is
When you love God in this way, you can love your neighbor selflessly because you recognize that God Herself loves your neighbor

23. Portrait Essay - due Monday
Looking at the portrait we have “drawn” of a virtuous person, I would like you to “draw” a self-portrait of yourself in comparison. In a 1-page essay, I would like you to answer the following prompts:
Which parts of our portrait come easily to you? Which of the 7 virtues have you already begun to develop as a student? As a friend or classmate? As a family member?
What behaviors do you have that help to develop these virtues?
Which virtues have you ignored or cultivated in a negative way as a student? As a friend? As a family member?