Virtue is defined in multiple ways throughout the document. It involves having a firm and habitual disposition to do good. There are theological virtues like faith, hope and love that dispose us towards God, and cardinal or moral virtues like prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance that guide our interactions with others. Prudence involves practical wisdom and discernment. Fortitude provides courage to do what is right. Temperance brings moderation. Justice requires giving each person their due. Christian virtue is shaped by conformity to Christ and receiving grace from the Holy Spirit.

1. CHRISTIAN
VIRTUES

2. VIRTUE
It comes from the Latin virtus,
meaning “courage” or “bravery,”
especially that of a soldier.
Virtus is derived from vir which
means “man.” Hence, literally
speaking, “virtue” means
“manliness.”

3. VIRTUE
It is a habitual and firm
disposition to do the good.
It allows the person not only to
perform good acts but also to give
the best of himself/herself.

4. VIRTUE
In ethics, virtue signifies a habit
inclining one to think and act
correctly, to follow what is right,
and to avoid evil.

5. VIRTUE
St. Augustine
defines virtue as a
“good quality of
the mind by which
one lives rightly,
which no one uses
badly, and which
God works in us.”

6. VIRTUE
St. Thomas
Aquinas explains
that virtue is a
habit that is good;
it perfects the
power of the soul
and inclines one to
do good.

7. VIRTUE
Three key ideas in
Aristotle’s definition:
1. Virtue is a state of
character.
2. Virtue makes humans
good.
3. Virtue makes humans
do their work well.

8. CHRISTIAN VIRTUE
 It does not center on
the human person but
has its source in the
Holy Spirit with His
transforming grace.
 It consists in
conformity to the image
of Christ and in the
“new creature” created
after the likeness of
God in true
righteousness and
holiness.

9. Catechism of the Catholic
Church (CCC) classifies
virtues as…
Theological virtues-
faith, hope, and love.
Human or moral virtues-
prudence, justice,
fortitude, and temperance.

10. THEOLOGICAL VIRTUE
Its immediate object is God.
It disposes Christians to live in
a relationship with the Triune
God.

11. 1. VIRTUE OF FAITH
We believe in God
and all that He has
said and revealed to
us- and that the
Holy Church
proposes for our
belief- because He
is truth Himself.

12. 1. VIRTUE OF FAITH
Vatican II’s
document Dei
Verbum states that
by faith one freely
commits his/her
entire self to God
(#5).

13. 1. VIRTUE OF FAITH
“All however must
be prepared to
confess Christ
before men and to
follow Him along
the way of the
Cross, amidst the
persecutions which
the Church never
lacks.” (LG 42)

14. 1. VIRTUE OF FAITH
The first step to
faith is to
understand the
credibility of
God- the God
revealed in
history and in
Jesus Christ.

15. 2. VIRTUE OF HOPE
We desire the
kingdom of heaven
and eternal life as
our happiness,
placing our trust in
Christ’s promises and
relying not on our
strength but on the
help of the grace of
the Holy Spirit.

16. 3. VIRTUE OF LOVE
 It enables us to love God
above everything for his
own sake and to love our
neighbor as God loves us.
 This is the virtue which
perfectly binds together all
other virtues.
 We cannot work for justice
without love.
 To be just is to be loving
and vice versa.

17. FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES

18. 1. Prudence Is good common sense.
“Right reason in action”
–St. Thomas A.
Helps us to discover
what is good in every
situation & helps us to
choose the right ways
of achieving it.
A prudent person
always seeks the most
loving & just thing to do
in a given circumstance.

19. Prudence
The exercise of conscience is always
guided by PRUDENCE.
It is the capacity for DISCERNMENT.
It formulates & imposes the correct
dictates of reason.
“What is the best way for me, in this
situation, to do the right thing?”
The prudent person must
investigate the situation & take
counsel from others.

20. Prudence presupposes
the ff. qualities:
Knowledge of moral principles
Ability to make rational inferences
Vision or foresight
Ability to weigh circumstances
Ability to anticipate obstacles &
plan to surmount them.
Ability to decide.

21. 2. Fortitude
Gives us the firmness,
strength, & courage to deal
with temptations,
difficulties, & dangers in
doing what is right and true.
It is spiritual courage to do
what is right, helping us
conquer fear, even of death
in defending a just cause.

22. 3. Temperance
Moderates the attraction
of pleasures & provides
balance in the use of
created goods.
Is the virtue that enables
us to control our
appetites for these goods
(food, drink, sexual
pleasure…) & use them
in God-intended ways.
We develop this virtue by
acts of self-denial.

23. 4. The Virtue of Justice
It is the moral &
cardinal virtue by
which we give
God & our
neighbor what is
their due by
right.

24. References/Sources:
 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
 A PILGRIM’S NOTES by Fr. Fausto Gomez, O.P.