Practice and Live a Virtuous Life
"PRAYER FOR COMPASSION"
Often the world pushes us to be tough, to go
against our natural instincts of gentleness and
kindness. We are called to help calm the
storms—and transform the world through love.
Lord, preserve my gentle spirit, especially in the midst of chaos.
The world pushes, and I want to push back.
Help me to be more like you: forgiving and loving, yet
strong. Teach me kindness and gentleness in all I
do and say. Give me the strength to handle the
ways of this world with love.
Lord, I trust in your ways. Come Holy Spirit, fill
me with compassion for others. Ignite in me the
fire of God’s love. Help me to reach out to those
who will cross my path today. I want to
participate in your compassion.
I want to reach out with your heart, with your
power of mercy and love. I want to do
more. Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart, so that it
may overflow with compassion for all I meet today.
Amen.
Source: Franciscan Spirit
"PRACTICE AND LIVE A VIRTUOUS LIFE"
"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" — Philippians 4:8.
"A [person)] acquires a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions" — Aristotle
Are you seeking to cultivate, practice, and live a virtuous life?
Would you rather associate with persons who are virtuous—who are loving, truthful, humble, responsible, disciplined, honest, generous, faithful, friendly, courageous, compassionate, merciful, peaceful, and who have a sense of duty, poverty of spirit, purity of heart, are other-centered, practice restraint and moderation, and who live justly and with integrity? Or, would you prefer to associate with persons who are afflicted with vices—who are prideful, lie, cheat, steal, are self-centered, deceptive, irresponsible, lazy, greedy, cowardly, gossipy, addictive, hateful, heartless, vengeful, or unjust? When you look in the mirror, which of these virtues or vices do you see in yourself? Which virtues do you want others to experience and see in you?
The Christian moral life is one that seeks to cultivate and practice virtue, which is an “habitual and firm disposition to do the good….The human virtues are stable dispositions of the intellect and will that govern our acts, order our passions, and guide our conduct in accordance with reason and faith.” (see USCCA, p. 531).
Historically, human virtues have been grouped around what are called the four “cardinal virtues” of prudence, justice, fortitude (courage) and temperance (moderation). The word “cardinal” is from the Latin cardo, meaning “hinge.” All human virtues are said to be related or “hinged” to one of these cardinal virtues.
Through the cardinal virtue of prudence, “one knows the true good in every circumstance and chooses the right means to reach that end.” (Id. at 525). Through justice, “one is able to give God and neighbor what is due to them.” (Id. at 517). Through fortitude, “one courageously and firmly chooses the good despite difficulty and also perseveres in doing what is right despite temptation, fear, or persecution.” (Id. at 513). Through temperance, “one moderates the desire for the attainment of and pleasure in earthly goods.”(Id. at 530).
We can acquire human virtues through a number of ways. We can seek to frequently perform virtuous acts that can establish a pattern of virtuous behavior within us. Virtue, which is an internal reality, can lead us to perform external acts that are morally good. We can also acquire virtues through wisdom and the morally good examples of others that can motivate and will us to strive to develop such virtues within us.
We are especially called to open ourselves through prayer and the Sacraments to being transformed by God’s love and grace, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to purify and strengthen our human virtues against the inordinate desires of power, prestige, possessions, pleasures or the reality of other vices or sins that can challenge us to seek to think, live, and act contrary to God’s intended goodness for us.
Which life do you choose to live?
VIDEOS
"Seven Deadly Sins - Seven Lively Virtues" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"The Good Life - Aristotle"
"The Virtues of the Christian Disciple" (Dr. Edward Sri)
"Value vs. Virtue" (Dr. Edward Sri)
"The Cardinal Virtues, Part 1: Prudence "(Fr. Jonathan Morris)
"The Cardinal Virtues, Part 2: Justice" (Fr. Jonathan Morris)
"The Cardinal Virtues, Part 3: Temperance" (Fr. Jonathan Morris)
"The Cardinal Virtues, Part 4: Courage" (Fr. Jonathan Morris)
"The Four Cardinal Virtues" (Fr. Ben Bradshaw)
"The Virtues" (Mike Brummond, S.T.L.)
"The Cardinal Virtues" (Mike Brummond, S.T.L.)
"Aristotle and Virtue Theory"
"The Necessity of Virtue" (Jordan Peterson)
"What Does it Mean to be a Man of Virtue?"
"Living a Virtuous Life in Today's World"
"The Importance of the Four Cardinal Virtues - My Catholic Perspective"
"Tour of the Catechism, No. 65 - Virtues" (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty"
"Who Am I?"
"We Walk by Faith"