Lesson 5: CLE 10

Growth in Cristian
Life
Cardinal Virtues
Virtue  Come for the Latin word cardo; meaning hinge
 Come from the Latin word virtus; literally  A hinge on which other virtues depend
means the quality of the vir- a man of great  Are the most ancient virtues
nobility Note: The Ancient Greeks described cardinal
 Refers to moral excellence virtues as habits. Because these can be only
 Growth in virtue meant in acquisition of a acquired through constant repetition of the good
balanced personality and serious preparation deed
for leadership in the community  4 parts in matter of human behavior
Note: The Ancient Greece saw such moral of  The Practical Intellect
excellence as the key requirement for - Understanding of what must be done
community leadership  The Will
- Decision regarding what must be
Leadership done
 Was associated to power and dominance in
 The Irascible Tendencies
the ancient times
- Ability to respond to grave and
 Was associated to superior virtue by the Greek urgent situation
philosophers
 The Concupiscible Tendencies
 Only virtuous people should be considered for - Quest of human needs, e.g., food
leadership drink, rest, sex
 Humble and loving service  Cardinal Virtue for each part of the human
 Consisted in service, characterized by humility person
and love  Prudence
- Perfection of the practice of the
Humility
excellence
 Proper understanding of ourselves in relation
- The right way to do things
to God and to others
- Capacity of a person to act in a
 Greek philosophers did not think of it as a concrete situation
virtue
 Justice
 Christianity see humility as a cardinal value, as - Perfection of the will
it is the basis of all their virtues - Determination to give whatever is
 Christian’s concrete expression of humility is due
service - Decision regarding what must be
 Intimately connected to love done
 Fortitude or Courage
Service
- Perfection of irascible tendencies
 No service is possible without humility
- Ability to respond to grave and
 Service is not authentic without love urgent situations
 Providing for the needs of other, even in lowly - Overcoming fear
and demeaning conditions  Temperance
Note: Vatical II teachers in its Dogmatic - Perfection of concupiscible appetites
Constitution on the Church that “the true disciples - Control over desires to indulge in
of Christ is marked by love both God and of his or satisfaction of basi human needs
her neighbor” (Lumen Gentium n. 42) - “tanan na sobra indi nami”
Note: Holiness is found in the perfection of love

Note: Love is proven in suffering

Theological Virtues
 Comes from the Greek word theos; meaning
God
 Are centered on God
 God is the source and goal of these virtues
Note: St Paul teaches: “Now we have faith, hope,
love, these three but the greatest of these is love”
(ICor 13:13)
 Faith
- Understanding of present realities
- Absolute self-surrender to God
 Hope
- Understanding of future realities
- Presumption: excessive hope
- Despair: lack of hope
 Love
- Strongest force in the world
- Makes people do what is seemingly
impossible

Capital Virtues
 Humility
- As opposed vainglory
 Generosity
- As opposed to avarice or greed
 Kindness
- As oppose to envy
 Patience or Meekness
- As opposed to anger
 Chastity
- As opposed to lust
 Temperance
- As opposed to intemperance,
particularly gluttony
 Diligence
- As opposed to spiritual sloth

Virtue
 Essential qualities of virtue
 Symmetry
- Sense of proportion
 Vision
- Way of seeing the world
 Character
- Personal determination to pursue
one’s vision
 Narrative