Virtue

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Virtue

1. What is virtue?
2. What are moral virtues?
3. What are the cardinal virtues?
4. What is prudence?
5. What is the virtue of justice?
6. What is the virtue of fortitude?
7. What is the virtue of temperance?
8. What are some other moral virtues?
9. What are the theological virtues?
10. What does the word "theological" mean?
11. What is the virtue of faith?
12. Can we be saved by faith alone?
13. Does faith require anything of us?
14. How can we grow in our faith?
15. How do we put our faith into action?
16. What is the virtue of hope?
17. How do we live by hope?
18. What is the virtue of charity?
19. How do we live by charity?
20. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
20. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
21. What is the gift of wisdom?
22. What is the gift of understanding?
23. What is the gift of counsel?
24. What is the gift of fortitude?
25. What is the gift of knowledge?
26. What is the gift of piety?
27. What is the gift of fear of the Lord?
28. What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
29. For what will God reward us?

1. What is virtue?
Virtue is a power to do good or a habit of doing good. The main virtues are the theological (God-centered) virtues and the cardinal (hinge or key) virtues. Although these powers are free gifts of God we must use them, so that they truly become the habits of doing good that God meant them to be. (1803)

2. What are moral virtues?
The moral virtues are human virtues or dispositions, attitudes and habits of conducting oneself in an upright and orderly way. They are strengths of character developed by personal effort which enable a person to live with freedom and self-control. (1804)

3. What are the cardinal virtues?
The cardinal virtues are the key moral virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. The word "cardinal" comes from the Latin word for "hinge." The other moral virtues hinge on these four. (1805)

The wisdom of prudence, justice and courage; nothing in life is more profitable...than these (Wis 8:7).

4. What is prudence?
Prudence is the virtue which enables us to think carefully before acting, to make wise choices, and to do things well. (1806)

5. What is the virtue of justice?
Justice is the virtue which enables us to give God and neighbor their due, thus safeguarding the rights of God and others. (1807)

6. What is the virtue of fortitude?
Fortitude is the virtue by which we do what is good and right in spite of any difficulty. (1808)

7. What is the virtue of temperance?
Temperance is the virtue by which we exercise self-control with regard to the drives of human nature. (1809)

8. What are some other moral virtues?
Other moral virtues are:

Filial piety and patriotism, which help us love, honor and respect our parents and nation;

Obedience, which helps us obey our parents and all authorities who represent God;

Truthfulness, which helps us always tell the truth;

Liberality, which helps us use rightly the goods of this world;

Patience, which helps us to face trials and difficulties with calmness;

Humility, which helps us to know ourselves and be grateful for whatever is good in us;

Chastity, or purity, which helps us to be pure in mind, heart and body.

There are many other moral virtues besides these.

9. What are the theological virtues?
The theological virtues-faith, hope and charity-have God as their origin, motive and object. God gives them to us so that we might direct our whole life to him. (1812-1813)

So these three-faith, hope, and love-remain, but the greatest of them all is love (1 Cor 13:13).

10. What does the word "theological" mean?
"Theological" means that which pertains to God.

11. What is the virtue of faith?
Faith is the supernatural virtue by which we believe all that God has revealed and teaches us through the Catholic Church, because he cannot deceive or be deceived. By faith we commit our whole selves to God. (1814)

12. Can we be saved by faith alone?
We cannot be saved by faith alone; God requires that we give life to our belief through good works which spring from love. (1815)

Faith by itself is dead, unless it is manifested in works (Jas 2:17).

13. Does faith require anything of us?
Besides living our faith and constantly studying it, we must openly profess our faith. (1816)

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I, too, will acknowledge them before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I, too, will deny them before my Father in heaven (Mt 10:32-33).

14. How can we grow in our faith?
We can grow in our faith by making frequent acts of faith, by praying for an increase of faith, by studying the truths of faith, by living according to God's will, by choosing friends and associates wisely, and by reading or viewing only good things, avoiding anything against the teachings of the Church.

15. How do we put our faith into action?
We put our faith into action by bringing the Gospel spirit into every aspect of our lives, especially in our relations with others. We thus witness to Christ, extend the kingdom of God and build a more human world.

Always be ready with a reply for anyone who demands an explanation for the hope you have within you, but do it humbly and respectfully... (1 Pt 3:15).

16. What is the virtue of hope?
Hope is the supernatural virtue by which we trust that God will give us eternal life and all we need to obtain it, because he is merciful and faithful to his promises. (1817)

17. How do we live by hope?
We live by hope by trusting that God will give us the graces necessary for salvation and fulfill our desire for the blessedness of the kingdom. (1818)

We even rejoice in our afflictions, since we know that affliction produces steadfastness, steadfastness produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. And this hope is no illusion, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us (Rom 5:3-5).

18. What is the virtue of charity?
Charity is the supernatural virtue by which we love God above all, and love all other people as ourselves for the love of God .(1822)

God is love , and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him...whoever loves God must also love his brother (1Jn 4:16, 21).

19. How do we live by charity?
We live by charity by living the two great commandments: that is, loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, because he is worthy of all our love, and by loving our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. In practice this involves obeying the commandments of God and of the Church and performing the works of mercy. (1823-1827)

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous, does not boast, is not arrogant. Love is not dishonorable, is not selfish, is not irritable, does not keep a record of past wrongs. Love does not rejoice at injustice but rejoices in the truth. Love endures all things; love has complete faith and steadfast hope; love bears with everything (1 Cor 13:4-7).

20. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. These gifts prepare us to receive grace and make it easier to practice the virtues. They permanently dispose us to be receptive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. (1830-1831)

At the same time God bore witness through signs and wonders and all sorts of mighty deeds, and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will (Heb 2:4).

21. What is the gift of wisdom?
Wisdom is the gift which helps us to love spiritual things, to put God first in our lives, and to judge what will be helpful and what will be an obstacle to reaching heaven.

22. What is the gift of understanding?
The gift of understanding helps us to see more deeply into the truths we already believe by faith.

23. What is the gift of counsel?
The gift of counsel or right judgment helps us to choose what is right, even in difficult circumstances.

24. What is the gift of fortitude?
Fortitude or courage is the gift which helps us to be brave and patient in overcoming difficulties and carrying out our duties.

25. What is the gift of knowledge?
Knowledge is the gift which helps us to evaluate created things in relation to God and to see them as instruments, not as goals.

26. What is the gift of piety?
Piety is the gift which helps us to love and reverence God as our Father and all people as our brothers and sisters, so that our service to both God and others will not be a burden.

27. What is the gift of fear of the Lord?
Fear of the Lord helps us to respect God and to desire to please him in everything. It is not a fear of God, but a fear of offending him.

28. What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are perfections that result from our response to the Holy Spirit's impulses to do good (actual graces). The twelve fruits are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity. (1832)

The Spirit's fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. There is no law against these things! If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit! (Gal 5:22, 25).

29. For what will God reward us?
God will reward us for all our victories over temptation and sin, for all our good deeds and sacrifices done out of love for him, and for all our efforts to grow closer to him.

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