Cardinal and Theological
Virtues in the Catholic Church
CARDINAL VIRTUES
The cardinal virtues are the four primary
moral virtues. The English word cardinal
comes from the Latin word “cardo,” which
means "hinge."
All other virtues hinge upon these four
virtues. The cardinal virtues can be
practiced by anyone, religious or nonreligious.
(Scott P. Richert)
Cardinal Virtues
There are 4 cardinal virtues
•
a) Prudence
•
b) Justice
•
c) Fortitude
•
d)Temperance
Prudence
Practical judgment.
Prudence asks the question, “What is the right
thing to do in this particular situation?” (common
sense).
An example of prudence is organizing your study
time before an exam.
Staying home before a final instead of going to a
football or basketball game is prudent.
Justice
Justice is the virtue that reminds us that the
people with whom we share our world
have rights and that, as much as possible,
all people deserve to have basic needs
met.
In other words, justice is the virtue that
explicitly ranks our own good as equal to
the common good, the good of all people.
Fortitude
Fortitude is simply a fancy term for the virtue that
the cowardly lion requests from the wizard of
Oz-courage.
The challenge is to stand up for what is right in the
face of peer pressure or in circumstances when
we are being called upon to step out of our usual
patterns of behavior. Without the courage to act,
all the other virtues are useless.
It ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in
the pursuit of the good.
Temperance
Temperance is the virtue that
refers to self-control in general.
As justice is the virtue of social
harmony and balance, so
temperance is the virtue of
personal harmony and
balance. Temperance
advocates a wholesome
personal lifestyle.
Freedom requires self control. If
we are incapable of regulating
the amount of food we eat or
the amount of alcohol we
consume, then we are not free.
THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES
The Theological Virtues
are gifts of God through
grace.
(Scott P. Richert)
Theological Virtues
Theological virtues are rooted in God and
reflect God’s presence in our lives.
The 3 Theological virtues are the following:
a) Faith
b) Hope
c)Love (Charity)
Faith
Faith is the virtue by which we recognize
that God exists and that God’s very
existence holds moral implications for us.
Faith is believing in God and being faithful to
him.
Faith requires openness and trust. Faith-inaction involves trying to discover what is
God’s will and then acting accordingly.
Hope
Hope is trusting in God, in everything that Christ
has promised, and in the help of the Holy Spirit.
Hope is intimately tied to responsibility. It is future
oriented and means taking seriously the
consequences of our actions.
Jesus provides hope that, no matter how hopeless
our current circumstances appear and despite
trials and setbacks, in the end all will be well.
“Never Give up!”
Love
Love is the theological virtue representing
the core of the Christian moral life. Love is
the virtue that places concern for God,
manifest especially through concern for
others, above everything else.
The Catechism defines love in the words of
the medieval theologian Saint Thomas
Aquinas, “To love is to will the good of
another.”
Love (cont.)
Every other virtue that we might practice
represents some dimension of love: every time
we practice a virtue, we are giving expression to
love. Pretty much love is the core virtue and
when we practice any virtue, we are practicing
love.
Moral laws are norms for love: moral principals are
the principles of love. Sin indicates a failure to
love.
Moral decision making is the process of practicing
the art of love.
Source:
Back to Virtue Peter Kreeft
1992