Catechism series - Virtues

Welcome again to another lesson in my Catechism series. We will touch on something a little more basic this time. The lesson for tonight is the same lesson given to grade school level Catechism. I hope you gain something or remember something from your elementary religion class. Tonight's lesson is about virtue.

What is a virtue?

Webster's dictionary defines virtue as "conformity to a standard of right" or "a particular moral excellence."
The Catechism defines virtue as a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. (CCC 1803) Notice the words habitual and firm.

There are two kinds as defined in the Catechism. First is the Human virtues. These virtues come from our own being and grow along with us. The Human virtues are also known as cardinal virtues. They are prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. The second set of virtues are the Theological virtues. Theological virtues come from God and the human virtues get their life from them.

Cardinal virtues

I will be using famous comicbook superheroes as examples because they're the ones who practice human virtues almost perfectly.

Prudence - the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of acheiving it. (CCC 1806) In other words, common sense with a little taste of wisdom. Now, I understand that common sense does not come easily to some blokes these days. I think common sense may be dead. I refuse to kill it. Common sense is too important to lose. Prudence helps us with our judgement. It leads the other virtues. Prudence can also be defined as making careful decisions. However, you need intellect to guide your judgements. The common phrase we can associate is "looking before you leap."
Let's take Spiderman as an example for prudence. For those of you who do not know Spiderman, he's a comicbook superhero from Marvel comics who was bitten by a radioactive spider... Whoops! They revamped his story... I think now he's bitten by a genetically engineered spider which gave him the powers of a spider. Like any other superhero, Spiderman has to practice prudence. He is careful with his powers as not to hurt others when not Spiderman. Most especially of all, when someone needs help, as long as he can, Spiderman will always lend a helping hand. I'd say that would be a good example of prudence.

Justice - the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor. (CCC 1807) Simply said, with the virtue of justice, we treat others with respect. I can't really say much with justice but I can use Superman as an example. Again, Superman is another comicbook character from DC comics. When Superman saves people, he doesn't care who or what they are. He treats them all equally and gives them their due. He sends criminals to jail and saves people from being victims.

Fortitude - the moral virtue that ensues firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. (CCC 1808) Fortitude gives you the courage to do what is right, in every circumstance. I must say that this isn't my strongest virtue. All classic superheroes do not lack this virtue. Unless maybe if you're an anti-hero. They will always do what is right no matter what.

Temperance - the moral virtue tha tmoderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. (CCC1809) Just as it says, temperance requires the use of the will. If what ones desires is wrong, one must stop. As much as Superman can conquer the world singlehandedly or as much as Spiderman can break Flash Thompson's face, they do not simply because it is wrong.

Notice all the later three virtues. If you think about it, all of them employ the virtue of prudence.

Theological virtues

Faith - the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe in all that he has said and revealed to us and that the Holy Church proposes for our beliefs because God is Truth itself. (CCC 1814) Faith is given to us, we don't make it. It must be professed just as we live on it. In simplier terms, faith is a virtue where in we trust in God because we know him and his word to be true.

Hope - the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ 's promises and relying on help of the grace of the Holy Spirit to merit it and to preserve to the end of our earthly life. (CCC 1817) Ever felt when everything just didn't go your way? Regardless of what happened, it's not the end. Never lose hope because in the end run, everything else on earth would be meaningless compared to being face to face with God. Hope demands us to trust God with all our heart and soul that he will deliver us no matter what.

Charity - the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. (CCC 1822) The virtue of charity is also known as love. Just as Jesus' commandment goes, "Love one another as I have loved you." Genuine love is really not an emotion. Rather love is a choice. Love is a decision to choose what is best for the beloved. The church, Jesus' beloved, was given what is best by dying for her.