Continuing our previous discussion of living the life that Christ has called us to live as His followers, in this issue we will examine some ancient wisdom that the Church has baptized as its own. Since the times of the ancient philosophers, it has been known that in order to be a good person, one had to be a virtuous person. A Virtuous person is one who models his behavior by developing certain good habits called virtues. Holy Mother Church has examined this virtues and accepted many of the good principles of these wise ancients while amending and modifying them when necessary to live up to the standards of the Gospel. This article will briefly examine and describe the 4 virtues known as the ‘cardinal’ virtues.
Prudence has been referred to as the principle virtue. This title is quite appropriate since prudence is the virtue by which we determine how the other virtues are to be practiced. We practice prudence whenever we take a moment to examine a situation and ask what would be the wise (or prudent) course of action to take in a given situation. This wisdom is applied in different manners as the situation calls for; nevertheless, true prudence must turn to God’s revelation and a well-formed conscience in order to be an authentic Christian virtue. While the virtuous pagan may ask: “What would be the wise thing to do in this situation for my benefit and the benefit of those I love?” The Christian practice of virtue would properly ask: “What is the wise course of action for doing God’s will, growing in grace, and observing charity toward my neighbor?”
Justice is the virtue by which we govern our conduct with others. Simply put, in justice we pay to others what is rightfully theirs. The most obvious way in which this virtue is practiced is by respecting the property of others and not stealing. However, there are several other ways that this virtue is practiced in a material sense, for instance, when we pay the just price for goods we use or pay a just wage to workers for their labor. From the opposite perspective, workers practice the virtue of justice when they provide an honest days work for the payment that they receive (as opposed to slacking off/taking any opportunity for an unauthorized break. In an immaterial sense, the practice of justice requires giving full credit to other for what they have done or accomplished. This notion would include things such as intellectual property and would not allow practices such as plagiarism. Furthermore, justice acknowledges that people are entitled to certain things in keeping with human dignity, e.g. their good name and the respect of their community. As Christians we should never tarnish such dignity with practices of gossip or slander. As a general rule we should always strive to speak about others with charity and not to reveal their faults or sins without a serious reason.
Temperance is the virtue by which we regulate the goods of life. In this world there are certain goods that God has provided for our well-being and enjoyment. Food is good, exercise is good, leisure, pleasant conversation, and the marital act are all good things that have been given to humanity by God. Nevertheless, in order for these things to function for the well-being of man, they must be used properly in accordance with God’s intended use of them. Abuse of these goods makes them harmful to man. Too much food causes obesity. Temperance is the virtue that operates as the brake device against human passions and keeps them in control. It is by temperance that we realize that a second piece of cake would not be wise, four hours is to too much time spent watching T.V. and that the marital act can only be a truly loving act when reserved to marriage. This virtue is practiced when we make wise decision about when to stop any activity that the uncontrolled, beastlike passions of man would use until exhausted. Temperance is a truly humanizing virtue.
Fortitude is the final virtue of our present examination, and it is the virtue by which we drive ourselves. In contrast to temperance which prevents us from overdoing certain things that we are inclined to enjoy, fortitude is the driving force by which we push ourselves to do things that we are not inclined to do or enjoy which are nonetheless deemed to be in our best interests. Fortitude is the virtue practiced when we spend the afternoon studying in the library instead of visiting with our friends, that drives us to wake up early in order to exercise before work, and to stand up to the ridicule of other for things we know are right.
A little reflection on these virtues and how we currently practice them, combined with prayer for the help of God’s grace, can provide good insights on where we are strong as men and women of virtue and where we need to grow. May God assist us in this effort to live according to His holy will.