The Call to Virtue overcoming our inclination to vice Defining Virtue A habitual and firm disposition to to the good (CCC 1803) Habits dispose us to repeat themselves - Performing virtues make it easier to be good. - Performing vices addicts us to evil. 1 2 Good Good, Evil, & Original Sin Adam & Eve were created in a state where it was easy to do good (original holiness/justice). Evil Good, Evil, & Original Sin An effect of Original Sin: we inherit concupiscence (an inclination to sin) Good Harder Becomes Easier "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:13-14) Grace Concupiscence Addictive Easier Evil 3 4 Religion Harder Becomes Easier Example: Religion It s easy to not pray/go to Mass. Grace Concupiscence The longer we ignore/reject our relationship w/god, the harder it is to start (again). Example: Religion God offers us grace to see the good of religion and choose it. We accept that grace and fight irreligious tendencies. The more we work on our relationship w/god, the easier it gets to keep it up (we re in the habit). If we slack off, it quickly gets tougher. Addictive Easier Irreligion Analogy: weightlifting/working out 5 6
Why Virtue? Virtue, Vice, and Freedom Vice is addictive. Addicts aren t free. True freedom is the ability to do the good (not being Virtue aims at what is truly good (leads us to God--the source of all goodness) Our choices and actions form us--virtue leads us to be hindered by addiction to vice). the-best-version-of-ourselves Our culture confuses freedom with autonomy (legal Virtue makes us truly happy in this life, and infinitely ability to do whatever you want, good or bad). happy in the life to come. - Too often people begin working for autonomy only to change it into promotion of what is evil and rejection of those who don t accept the evil as good. - Leads to more addictions (less freedom) 7 8 Types of Virtue Human Virtues - Habitual perfections of the intellect and will - Rooted in Theological Virtues Types of Virtue Human Virtues 4 main categories: (Cardinal Virtues) - Infused into our souls by God (but we should still pray for them) - Dispose us to live a relationship w/god - Faith - Prudence - Hope - Justice - Love (Charity) - Fortitude - Adapt our abilities to be - Temperance able to participate in God 9 Prudence 10 Without Prudence Knowing what is good in each situation and choosing The boldness of bravery becomes foolhardiness the proper way of achieving that good Guides other virtues (you need to know and choose what is good before you can do what is good) But fear no more! I would not take this thing, if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her, so, using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory. No, I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo. 11 12
Without Prudence Without Prudence The concern of mercy sinks into permissiveness The control of temperance becomes fanaticism. Many people cannot distinguish between wanting to be merciful to their friends who suffer same-sex attraction and knowing that homosexual acts are against God s design. Instead of loving the sinner and hating the sin, they fall into permissively loving the sinner and the sin. Starving oneself to look skinny takes the temperance of fasting to a fanatical degree (often linked to a mental imbalance, too). Hypocrites fast for social esteem: "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. (Mt 6:16) 13 14 Justice Fortitude Giving to others what they are due: Examples of Justice Religion (due relationship with, worship of God) Sticking by what s right when it s tough Opposing Vices Irreligion (indifference or hostility to religion) - Resist Temptation - Conquer Fear Piety (due respect/obedience to Disrespect, Disobedience parents/country) Gratitude (thanks to those due thanks) Generosity (giving to those in need--within reason) Affability (due social respect for others) - Ultimate Example: Martyrs Pride, Indifference - "In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Jn 16:33) Greed Cold Shoulder, Silent Treatment, Pride, etc. 15 Fortitude 16 Temperance Proper balance in the use of earthly goods. Examples of Fortitude Opposing Vices Patience (bearing present evils Impatience, Rage w/calmness) Examples of Temperance Fasting (moderating food intake) Munificence (willing to incur great expense to do a great work Greed, Cowardice well) Magnanimity (seeing the great honor it is to be God s child, Cowardice, Laziness aiming to do great things well) Perseverance (continuing in Laziness, Cowardice virtue despite trials) Opposing Vices Starvation, Gluttony Sobriety (moderating alcohol intake) Drunkenness, Prohibition Chastity (moderating sexual pleasure) Lust, Pornography, Masturbation, Fornication, Adultery, Homosexual Acts Humility (moderating desire for one s own excellence) Pride Meekness (moderating anger) Wrath, Vengeance 17 18
Cardinal Virtues To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence). Faith -Believe in God -Believe in what He has revealed to us -Believe in what His Church teaches -For faith to be alive, we need hope and love: "faith apart from works is dead." (Jas 2:26) -Believe it, live it, profess it, bear witness to it, spread it St. Augustine. 19 20 Hope -Desiring Heaven as what will make us truly happy Directs our actions toward true happiness Helps us not to get distracted by worldly happiness -Trusting Jesus' promise of Heaven Helps us endure crosses and see that we can be drawn closer to God through them Relying on His graces to get to Heaven Love (Charity) - basis for all other virtues -Love God above all things for His own sake "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love." (Jn 15:9) -Love our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (Jn 15:12) Sacrificing ourselves for what is truly good for others 21 22 -True love follows the commandments "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love." (Jn 15:9) - Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor 13:4-7) The Virtuous Student What virtues particularly apply to being a good student? Religious - makes time for his relationship w/god Studious - focuses on what is most important (not pursuing trivial information/gossip, not being idle/lazy) Respectful - respect for one s professors (dress up, pay attention, read material, answer questions, complete assignments on time and well, etc.) 23 24
The Virtuous Student Just - doesn t cheat, plagiarize, pirate software, etc. Affable - able to have productive conversations with professors and fellow students, able to spend leisure time w/friends properly Magnanimous - Tries to do well in all areas of life (well rounded) Many more... (think of more for small group questions) Learn what is virtuous - You can t pursue what you don t know - "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." (Phil4:8) 25 26 Know yourself - You can t fight vice without looking for it. - The greatest saints recognized themselves as the worst sinners (they knew better). - Examination of Conscience - Good Spiritual Director Put yourself in the right situations - Avoid near occasions of sin (things that are very tempting) - Surround yourself w/others who are striving for virtue Find friends who will keep you accountable Be willing to accept critique 27 28 Use God s Help - Jesus died to set us free from sin: - His sacrifice offers us grace to free us from those addictions. - "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free... So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (Jn 8:31-32, 36) 29 30
- God gives us the Sacraments to help us be virtuous Extra graces to overcome addiction - God gives us Mary and the other saints to pray for us Especially if they struggled w/the same temptations. Don t get discouraged if you don t conquer addiction immediately. Keep making forward progress. Keep trying even after you fall (confess, pray, receive Communion, try again) As you make small victories, God will help you to progress further: Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master. (Matthew 25:23) 31 32 Recap Virtues dispose us to do good They re habitual: the more we do them, the easier it gets They draw us closer to God God is always trying to draw us closer, and gives us grace to help us be virtuous Virtue is for everyone, not just a select few--we re all called to be saints So strive to be a saint! What other pursuit could be greater? Small Groups What other virtues make a good student? What vices make studying more difficult? Name something from this talk that was interesting or new to you. Name a virtue that appeals to you. What makes it appealing? 33 34