21 THE SEVEN CARDINAL VIRTUES: PATHWAY TO HOLINESS
❇️ WHAT ARE THEY?
THE SEVEN CARDINAL VIRTUES in the Catholic tradition are essential virtues that guide individuals in leading a morally upright life.
They consist of four cardinal virtues and three theological virtues, providing a pathway to holiness.
🔷 CARDINAL VIRTUES:
- Prudence: The ability to make sound judgments and choices.
- Justice: Giving each person their due, promoting fairness and equity.
- Fortitude: Courage and strength in facing challenges.
- Temperance: Moderation and self-control in all aspects of life.
🔶 Theological Virtues:
- Faith: Belief and trust in God.
- Hope: Confident expectation of eternal life and God’s grace.
- Charity (Love): Selfless and unconditional love for God and others.
🌀 HISTORY & IMPORTANCE
💡 Biblical Foundation: The cardinal virtues find their roots in the Bible, with passages emphasizing qualities such as wisdom, justice, courage, and self-control.
💡 Philosophical Roots: Developed by ancient Greek philosophers, the cardinal virtues were integrated into Christian theology to provide a moral framework.
💡 St. Ambrose and St. Augustine: These early Church Fathers contributed to the understanding and application of virtues in the Christian life.
💡 St. Thomas Aquinas: A prominent theologian and Father of the Church, St Thomas Aquinas systematically defined and explained the virtues, categorizing them into cardinal and theological virtues.
💡 Catechism of the Catholic Church (1803): “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
📜 BIBLICAL BASIS
💠 Prudence: Proverbs 8:12 – “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.”
💠 Justice: Micah 6:8 – “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
💠 Fortitude: Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
💠 Temperance: 1 Corinthians 9:25 – “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”
💠 Faith: Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
💠 Hope: Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
💠 Charity (Love): 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
📜 LEARN FROM SAINTS & CHURCH TEACHINGS
🔶 St. Thomas Aquinas: “The four cardinal virtues are the guiding virtues; without them, no other virtues can be formed.”
🔶 St. Augustine: “Prudence is love choosing wisely, following God’s order.”
🔶 Catechism of the Catholic Church (1804): “Human virtues are firm attitudes, stable dispositions, habitual perfections of intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions, and guide our conduct according to reason and faith.”
🙏🏻 SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
🔷 Prudence: Enables individuals to make wise and informed decisions, aligning actions with God’s will.
🔷 Justice: Promotes fairness and equity, reflecting the divine order in human interactions.
🔷 Fortitude: Provides courage to endure hardships and challenges in living a virtuous life.
🔷 Temperance: Encourages moderation and self-control, guarding against excesses.
🔷 Faith: Deepens the trust and belief in God’s providence and teachings.
🔷 Hope: Nurtures confident expectation of God’s promises and eternal life.
🔷 Charity (Love): Inspires selfless and unconditional love for God and others.
🌐 PRACTICAL TIPS
💠 Daily Reflection: Regularly reflect on the virtues and assess how they can be applied in daily life.
💠 Prayer for Virtue: Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to cultivate and strengthen virtues.
💠 Examine Conscience: Use the virtues as a guide in examining conscience and seeking improvement.
💠 Community Support: Seek support from faith communities to encourage virtue in daily living and remind each other of living in holiness.
💠 Virtue for the Month: Select a specific virtue each month to focus on, intentionally cultivating and practicing it in various aspects of life.
May THE SEVEN CARDINAL VIRTUES be embraced as a transformative guide, leading us on the pathway to holiness and moral excellence.
❇️ Keep the faith!
✅ Live in love!
✳️ Deepen your hope!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
- Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Bengaluru, India
reflectioncapsules@gmail.com
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