RCIA instruction on Catholic position on virtues and works of mercy.

2. “I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for
those who persecute you, that you may be
children of your heavenly Father, for he makes
his sun rise on the bad and the good, and
causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what
recompense will you have? Do not the tax
collectors do the same? And if you greet your
brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do
not the pagans do the same? So be perfect,
just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matt 5:44-48

3. • A virtue is “a habit that perfects the powers of the soul
and disposes you to do good”.
• Through the goodness of God humans have grace, which
allows them to recognize and do the right thing.
• Virtues are already placed in us by God
• “… Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be
with you.”
Phil 4:9

4. There are 4 Cardinal virtues.
These 4 virtues are the basis for moral life.
Cardo or “Hinge” virtues, the basis for all others.

5. • Approach moral decisions with
caution, judgement, and reason.
• Opposite of being impulsive –
which leads to trouble.
… think before you act.
A clear vision of the situation at hand and consider the special
circumstances involved in the issue.
e.g. asking, Who are the unborn?
Mother of all virtues …
Recognize your moral duty and the good means to
accomplish it

6. • “A habit whereby a man renders to each
one his due with constant and perpetual will.“
St. Thomas Aquinas
• Duty to God and neighbor.
• Promote fairness and equality among all
• Includes individuals, social groups, and governments
• Derivative virtues piety, obedience, gratitude, veracity, and equity.
• Love of God and neighbor will drive us in our pursuit of Justice
“You have been told, O mortal, what is good,
and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do justice and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God.” Mic 6:8

7. • “Constant mindfulness of others and one’s surroundings. …
Proper moderation between self interest and public interest.”
• Built upon two essential parts: a sense of shame and honor.
• Shame: fear feeling the disgrace or embarrassment
• Honor: feel the dignity or esteem for doing right
• Temperance is about managing balance in your life
• Use of pleasure and created goods in the light of faith and reason
• Derivatives abstinence, sobriety, chastity,
humility, gentleness, clemency,
modesty and lack of greed.
Enables a person to keep their passions and
emotions under the control of reason

8. • Persevering in times of trouble; having
courage to do the right thing no matter
what the outcome.
• Strength to overcome obstacles to
living morally – helps you overcome
temptation
… connection with Temperance
• Does not entail making sacrifices or
risking one's life arbitrarily or foolishly.

9. The Old Testament book of Wisdom states (Wis
8:7)
"For Wisdom teaches temperance and
prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing in
life is more useful for men than these."

10. The Theological Virtues are source of
spiritual strength for perfecting our relationship with God.
Drawn into a deeper understanding and relationship with
God.

11. • Belief in God as a gift
and a response.
• Faith invites us to
accept or reject Him
• Commitment to God
• Revealed truths from
God
• Seek to do God’s will

13. • Helps us overcome
discouragement
• With faith and love
gives us confidence to
do better
• Trust in Christ’s
promises and rely on
the help of the Holy
Spirit
• Desire eternal life and
the graces to merit it

14. • Is the greatest of all the
theological virtues. (Matthew)
• Paul’s Letter to Corinthians
• Describes love … and continues …
• “Love never fails”
• “So faith, hope, love remain, these
three; but the greatest of these is
love.”
• What does Jesus command us
to do?
• Any relationship with Fortitude?
• Love inspires the practice of all
the virtues

15. • God created us to live in solidarity and to help one
another
• Virtues are the motivation from which we act
• Works of Mercy (or charity) are a natural response to
embracing the virtues.
• These are social actions that bring immediate response to a
person or group who is suffering or lacking the necessities of a
dignified life.
• Their primary focus is on direct action relating to basic
needs

16. • How will it all end?
• “… the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever
you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ … He
will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of
these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to
eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

17. • Corporal Works of Mercy are charitable actions that
respond to people’s physical needs and show respect for
human dignity.
• The Corporal Works of Mercy are:
• Feed the hungry
• Give drink to the thirsty
• Shelter the homeless
• Clothe the naked
• Care for the sick
• Visit the imprisoned
• Bury the dead
JarOfQuotes.com

18. • Spiritual Works of Mercy are charitable actions that
respond to people’s spiritual needs and show respect for
human dignity.
• They are:
• Instruct the ignorant
• Counsel the doubtful
• Comfort those who suffer
• Bear wrongs patiently
• Forgive those who hurt you
• Admonish sinners
• Pray for the living and the dead

19. “In the high-stakes drama all around
us, we have each been given a part to
play, one that bears our name and no
one else’s. We each have the mercy of
God to receive, a self to put to death, a
Kingdom to gain, a battle to fight and
spiritual enemies to slay, comrades to
aid, rebels to win over…The ancient
battle rages all around us, and the
adventure we were born for beckons.”
The Christian Cosmic Narrative

21. “We all want to live happily; in the whole human race there is no one
who does not assent to this proposition, even before it is fully
articulated. How is it, then, that I seek you, Lord? Since in seeking you,
my God, I seek a happy life, let me seek you so that my soul may live,
for my body draws life from my soul and my soul draws life from you.”
St. Augustine

23. Matt 22: 34-40
1 Cor 13:1-3 (!13)
John 15:12 – 17
James 2:14-17
Matt 7:3-5
Matt 25:31-46
Titus 2:11-12
Matt 5:20
Phil 4:8-9
Mark 10:15
Micha 6:8
ISA 12:2

24. • St. Paul in his Letter to the Philippians captured the idea of virtue and the
living of a virtuous life: "My brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed
to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure,
admirable, decent, virtuous or worthy of praise" (4:8).
• he gains self-mastery of his weakened nature due to original sin. In sum,
these virtues help to forge that Christian character and to motivate a person
to become God-like, in the best sense of the term
• “It is not important what you do in this world, it is how you do it. When the
curtain of our life comes down we will not be asked, ‘What role we played’,
we will only be asked ‘How well we played the role’.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen

25. • Why does “living virtuously” matter at all?
• “A habit whereby a man renders to each one his due with constant and perpetual
will." St. Thomas Aquinas.
• Includes our duty to God, first and foremost. Why? What does this duty entail?
• Second, and just as important is duty to our neighbor. What does this duty
entail?
• In what way do virtues affect our behavior patterns?
• Read Matt 7:1-2. How does this apply to the virtues you’ve learned about?
• Describe, in your own words, “faith-in-action” as it applies to moral decision
making.
• What is the cornerstone of all virtues? Why?
• What is the relationship between prayer and virtue?
• Why does “living virtuously” matter at all?
• “A habit whereby a man renders to each one his due with constant and perpetual
will." St. Thomas Aquinas.
• Includes our duty to God, first and foremost. Why? What does this duty entail?
• Second, and just as important is duty to our neighbor. What does this duty
entail?
• In what way do virtues affect our behavior patterns?
• Read Matt 7:1-2. How does this apply to the virtues you’ve learned about?
• Describe, in your own words, “faith-in-action” as it applies to moral decision
making.
• What is the cornerstone of all virtues? Why?

26. “The Christian faith is often
experienced as a mere set of rules
and disciplines, and simply going to
Church isn’t likely to lead a person
to embark on the great adventure
that is following Jesus and
continuing His mission of the
rescuing of this world.”
The Rescue Project