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Virtues and Vices

Virtues and Vices

What are Virtues?

Detail from The School of Athens by Raphael SanzioPlato and Aristotle gave us the philosophy of the natural

virtues. Aristotle holds his Nicomachean Ethics, one of the

greatest works of ethics.

What are Virtues? (1)

What are Virtues?

Virtues are good habits, that is, they give us a disposition to perform good

actions.KEY DEFINITION


What are Virtues?Our actions as human beings are not simply a sequence of disconnected choices.

We develop or acquire interior dispositions or habits, which incline us to perform particular kinds of actions.

When these habits are good we call them virtues.


What are the principal virtues?

Justice by Giotto di Bondone

What are the principal virtues? (1)

What are the principal virtues?There are four principal natural human virtues which every good person needs.

These are the cardinal virtues of prudence, fortitude, temperance and justice. All moral virtues are linked to the cardinal virtues, which are connected together, in the Christian life of grace, by charity.



Prudencelooks in her mirror, showing that self-

knowledge is needed to deliberate well.

PrudenceThe virtue of deliberating well about what actions we should do.

Prudence or practical wisdom directs us about what we should do in particular, practical situations.

Since moral laws do not determine every possible action we might take, we also need prudence to direct our choice of actions well.



Justicewith her scales renders what is proper to each

person.

JusticeThe virtue of rendering to each and to all what belongs to them.

Justice enables us to act justly in accordance with what practical reason directs us to do.

Since we are social by nature, we should seek the perfection of the societies in which we live. For this we need the virtue of justice.



Fortitudewith her armour is constant against

opposition.

FortitudeThe virtue of constancy in holding fast to good actions even when they are difficult.

Fortitude strengthens us against withdrawing from the good we should do in particular situations.

Since it is not enough just to know what is right, we also need fortitude to carry out our good actions.



Temperancebinds a sword,

representing the curbing of the

passions.

TemperanceThe virtue of curbing the passions that incite us to evil actions.

Temperance prevents us from yielding to our disordered desires and therefore pursuing what is evil.

Since our disordered desires lead to temptations, we need temperance to avoid evil in these situations.



Faith

Hope

Charitytouches the divine and distributes her fruits to

others.

In addition to the cardinal virtues, there are three virtues which are unique to the Christian life of grace after Baptism.

These are the ‘supernatural’ (or ‘theological’) virtues of faith, hope and charity.



Faith

Hope

Charitytouches the divine and distributes her fruits to

others.

Charity is lost if grace is lost through mortal sin. It is restored by means of Confession.

Charity is the supernatural virtue of heaven, “So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Cor 13:13


How do we achieve the virtues?

Central detail of The Seven Deadly Sins by BoschIt is only with Christ at the centre of our lives that we can

achieve the virtues.

How do we achieve the virtues? (1)

How do we achieve the virtues?

To some extent, a person can acquire the natural virtues through the personal discipline of repeated good actions and a well-ordered life.


How do we achieve the virtues?In our fallen condition, however, it is not possible to achieve complete human perfection by our own efforts.

It is only the perfection given by grace, by means of the sacraments and prayer, which also enables us to achieve the true cardinal virtues.


SummaryQuestions

to reinforcekey points

Discussionquestions

Practicalactivities

Presentation Part II

Summary Activities I

Please select an activity or go immediately to part II of the presentation

Summary Activities I

Summary

Activities Menu Presentation Part II

• Virtues are good habits, that is, they give us a disposition to perform good actions.

• The four cardinal virtues are prudence, fortitude, temperance and justice. The three supernatural virtues are faith, hope and charity.

• It is only the perfection given by grace, by means of the sacraments and prayer, which also enables us to achieve the true cardinal virtues.

Summary I

Questions to reinforce key points

Prudence

Justice

Fortitude

Temperance

What are the four cardinal virtues?


123

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answers

4

Questions to reinforce key points I

Discussion questions


• Discuss whether human beings are naturally virtuous.

• Discuss some practical ways in which the cardinal virtues can be lived out in the Christian life today.

Select one or more of the following:

Discussion questions I

Practical activities


• Read the Compendium of the Catechism questions 377-388.

• Read a brief account of one of the lives of the saints, noting the ways in which he or she lives the virtues.


Practical activities I

What are Vices?

The Seven Deadly Sins by Bosch

What are Vices? (1)

What are Vices?

Vices are evil habits; that is, they give us a disposition to perform evil

actions.KEY DEFINITION

What are Vices? (2)

What are Vices?

We sometimes develop vices which incline us to perform evil actions.

These normally involve excess or deficiency in pursuing what is good.

What are Vices? (3)

The seven deadly vices

The seven deadly vices (1)

The most well-known and traditional list of vices is called the seven deadly sins or vices.



The most well-known and traditional list of vices is called the seven deadly sins or vices.


Envy

Anger

Pride

Lust

SlothAvarice

Gluttony


The seven deadly vicesThese vices are called deadly because of their poisonous effects on the human soul, the difficulty that is often experienced in eradicating them, and the ease with which they lead to mortal sin.

They are also called capital sins, because they give rise to many other kinds of sins by those who commit them.


The seven deadly vices Each of these vices has, as a remedy, a contrary virtue linked to the cardinal virtues. The vices may promise an easier life but they ensnare and enslave us. The virtues may seem difficult, but they lead to our true freedom and happiness as human beings.Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue.

2 Peter 1:5


The vices and their remedies

The vices and their remedies (1)


PRIDEAscribing an excellence to oneself that one does not

possess, or believing one is the cause of one’s own

excellence, or desiring to be singularly great, despising

everyone else.HUMILITYRecognizing that we are

created by God and in need of his love and help; enabling us to form a true opinion of ourselves, disregard shallow popularity and be free from

self-obsession.



ENVYA grieving or sorrow for the goods and blessings given

to others, insofar as their gifts differ from or surpass our own.

FRATERNAL CHARITY

A gratitude for the gifts and talents of others and a

desire that each and every person reaches his or her full potential.



ANGERA violent passion to inflict revenge on others, to the point of clouding one’s

reason and usurping God’s judgment.

MEEKNESSA self-control inspired by

God’s clemency, which allows us to master our emotions

when attacked or wronged.



SLOTHA laziness, spiritual torpor or oppressive sorrow that

prevents us from doing what we can

achieve and should do.

DILIGENCEAn eagerness to do what is needed inspired by the zeal of divine love, making even difficult tasks achievable.



AVARICEA disordered desire for

riches and possessions, to the point of acting contrary

to the love ofGod and neighbour.

LIBERALITYA generosity towards others

in sharing God’s gifts, bringing personal contentment with

whatever we possess.



GLUTTONYA disordered desire to

consume food and drink too sumptuously,

too much, too hastily, greedily or even too

‘daintily’ (that is, being obsessed about its

excellence).TEMPERANCEA good order in desiring the

pleasures of taste and touch, inspired by respect for oneself as a temple of

the Holy Spirit.



LUSTA disordered craving for

sexual pleasure leading to abuses of the body and mind, addictions and destructive effects on families and society.CHASTITY

A proper use of our sexuality. Chastity guards our hearts and minds from

evil influences, gives us freedom and allows us to

love God and others purely.


SummaryQuestions

to reinforcekey points

Discussionquestions

Practicalactivities

Summary Activities IIPlease select an activity or go immediately

to the concluding prayer

Concluding Prayer

Summary Activities II

Summary

Activities Menu

• Vices are evil habits; that is, they give us a disposition to perform evil actions.

• The most well-known and traditional list of vices is a called the seven deadly sins or vices. These vices are pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, gluttony and lust.

• Each of these vices has, as a remedy, a contrary virtue linked to the cardinal virtues. The virtues may seem difficult, but they lead to our true freedom and happiness as human beings.

Concluding Prayer

Summary II

Questions to reinforce key points

PrideEnvy

AvariceAngerSloth

GluttonyLust

What are the seven deadly vices?

Activities Menu Concluding Prayer

1

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answers

234567

Questions to reinforce key points II

Discussion questions

Activities Menu

• Discuss some ways in which people today manifest the seven deadly vices.

• Discuss some of the ways in which we can avoid vice.


Concluding Prayer

Discussion questions II

Practical activities

Activities Menu


• Read some articles from recent newspapers and magazines. Note any instances of actions or ideas which reveal any of the seven deadly vices.

• The pictures of the deadly vices in this presentation come from Bosch’s The Seven Deadly Sins (15th century). Think about and note down what images might be used to represent these sins today.

Concluding Prayer

Practical activities II

Final Prayer

A Prayer of St Richard of Chichester

Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given me, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for me. Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and

Brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you

more nearly, day by day.Amen.

Final prayer