CHAPTER 6: CHRISTIAN VIRTUES PSYCH 3 (ABC)

“But whoever lives according to the truth comes Augustine of Hippo: a fixed disposition of the soul,
into the light, so that it can be clearly seen that his making connatural the response to what is morally
works have been done in God” (JOHN 3:21) right, and the art of living slightly and in a proper
manner.
Apostle Paul in Romans: (Romans 7:15-19)
 United and interconnected the virtues with
VIRTUE: latin “virtus”=“FORCE”; a habit of good the Christian life
behavior which enables us to do what is right with  Accepted cardinal virtues of the Greeks, he
increasing ease, joy, and consistency, in response also gave pride to Christian virtues
to God’s offer of and invitation to covenant love.
CARDINAL VIRTUES
GREGORY OF NYSSA: “The aim of the virtuous life is
to become like God.”  Play a pivotal role
 All the other virtues are grouped around
 “power” in the literal sense of the word; them
when turned to evil, it is called a vice.
I. PRUDENCE
VIRTUES IN THE SCRIPTURES
 Disposes practical reason to discern our true
 NO HEBREW TERM IN THE OLD TESTAMENTS good in every circumstance and to choose
until OT was translated to Greek (Septuagint) the right means of achieving it
 The word “arête” (virtue of excellence) was  Not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor
used (Wisdom :1 and 5:13); it is also with duplicity or dissimulation (Auriga
infrequently used in the Virtutum)
Virtues
NT. Implies the Has the ff.
elements:
related to  Immediately guides the
 Exegetes said that the ff. acts: prudence
judgment of conscience, and
reason for this is that the Habit of directs his conduct according to
word was too Wise seeking this judgment
memory
anthropocentric and consultation right
stressed human counsel  Apply moral principles to
achievement and merit. cases without error and
 We can find lists of virtues, Right Understandi
Judging overcome doubts about the
in the NT that describe judgement ng/intuition morality good to achieve and the evil to
moral existence in the of action avoid
early years of the Christian accordin
command docility g to law II. JUSTICE
community (Galatians
5:22-33; Romans 1:29-  Constant and firm will to give
321) shrewdness
their due to God and neighbor.
DIFFERENT VIEWS OF VIRTUES  Justice toward God = “virtue
Reason of religion”
Aristotle: Virtue is intimately  Justice toward men = respect
related to human happiness or Foresight the rights of each and to
eudaemonia as the end of establish in human relationships
humanity. circumsp the harmony that promotes
ection equity with regards to persons
 State of character (hexis) and to common good
concerned with choice, caution
 Just man: habitual right
lying in a mean thinking and uprightness of
intermediate between conduct.
two extremes: DEFICIENCY and EXCESS
which are vices DIFFERENT SPECIES OF VIRTUE OF JUSTICE
Deficiency (Vice) = Insensibility Legal Justice: observance of the law
Temperance = Virtue Commutative Justice: relation among individuals or
group of individuals
Excess (Vice) = Intemperance
CHAPTER 6: CHRISTIAN VIRTUES PSYCH 3 (ABC)
Distributive Justice: regards honors and burdens in
society, establishment of a right social order
VIRTUES RELATED TO JUSTICE
 Piety
 Reverence
 Obedience
 Gratitude
 Affability
 Friendship
 Fidelity
 Truthfulness
III. FORTITUDE
 Ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy
in the pursuit of the good
 Strengthens the resolve to resist temptations
and to overcome obstacles in the moral life
 Enables one to conquer fear and to face
trials and persecutions.
 “The Lord is my strength and might.”
VIRTUES RELATED TO FORTITUDE
 Magnanimity: the will is rendered prompt to
undertake great and arduous good works
▪ Munificence: readiness to incur great
expense in necessary external work
▪ Patience, Longanimity: disposition to bear
patiently the hardships
▪ Perseverance: inclination to continue to do
something even though it is difficult.
IV. TEMPERANCE
 Moderates the attraction of pleasures and
provides balance in the use of created
goods.
 Ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and
keeps desires within the limits of what is
honourable.
 Old Testament: “Do not follow your base
desires, but restrain your appetites”
 New Testament: “moderation” or “sobriety”
: “to live sober, upright and godly
lives in this world”
DIFFERENCE SPECIES OF VIRTUE OF TEMPERANCE
 Abstinence
 Sobriety
 Chastity
VIRTUES RELATED TO CHASTITY
 Purity, Continence, Virginity
VIRTUES CONNECTED WITH TEMPERANCE
 Modesty, Humility, Meekness, Clemency,
Studiousness
THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES
 Dispose Christians to live in relationship with
the Holy Trinity
 One and Triune God for their origin, motive,
and object
 In Christian Life, virtue is directly linked with
the action of the Holy Spirit within us,
including His gifts and fruits
 “Theological” because their object first is the
Triune God, signifies only those virtues which
have God as their direct object.
I. FAITH
 The realization of what is hoped for and
evidence of things not seen
Vatican II: “The obedience of faith must be given
to God as he reveals himself. By faith man freely
commits his entire self to God.”
Pope Benedict XVI: Porta Fidei
: retracing the history of faith
 By faith, we believe in God and believe all
that he has revealed to us and that the Holy
Church proposes for our belief.
WHAT IS FAITH
 Confidence or complete trust in something
or someone.
 Faith can be understood as conviction, as
trust, and as commitment. (McBrien, 2008)
A. FAITH AS CONVICTION
 Illuminist” school: understands faith as in
INNER LIGHT or as the beginning of wisdom.
 It refers to the personal relationship of the
individual to God.
 “Body of doctrines” school: firm assent of the
mind to what the church authoritatively
teaches in the name of God.
 Focuses believers’ attention on what there is
to believe; tend to disregard moral(social,
political, economic, personal and
CHAPTER 6: CHRISTIAN VIRTUES PSYCH 3 (ABC)
interpersonal) implications if accepting the  For St. Paul, love is the greatest gifts of the
gospel of faith. spirit (1 Cor 13:13)
 Chapter 1 of Corinthians 13: describes
B. FAITH AS TRUST features of love
 This concept of faith is SOLIDLY BIBLICAL.  1 Cor 13:4-7
 Pope Francis (Amoris Laetitia) A post-
 Emphasis of protestant reformers. synodal apostolic exhortation on love in the
family. (mahaba gud jud talaga swear ang
 Everything is left in hands of God, who will
gilagay sa book. I-basa niyo nalang oy)
save us inspire of our inequity.
Refers to the quality of
 Faith alone saves. one who does not act
on impulse and avoids
 Entails lack of real interest in social reform. giving offense. “Let all
LOVE IS bitterness and wrath
C. FAITH AS COMMITMENT PATIENT and anger and
clamor and slander be
 PERFORMATIVE APPROACH” put away from you,
with all malice” EPH
 Must be incarnate in praxis (faith-in-action) 4:31
 Faith is transforming acceptance of the It is ever ready to
Word. be of assistance
 Active engagement in the service of the “Love is shown
Kingdom of God. LOVE IS
more by deeds
 John 3:21, Rom 1:16-17, Gal 5:6, 1 Jn 5:4 KIND
than by words”
 Self-surrender to God as he reveals Himself. St. Ignatius of
 Acceptance or response. Loyal
II. HOPE Love has no
room for
 Rooted in faith. LOVE IS
discomfiture at
 Gen 3:20-24 NOT
another person’s
 Psalm 22: “My God, my God! Why have you JEALOUS
good fortune
forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46) (Acts 7:9; 17:5)
 Messianic hope is sounded throughout the Love is not
scripture, but in the material object which is arrogant; we do
also gradually seen in a new light. not become
 Pope benedict XVI, Encyclical letter Spe “puffed up”
Salvi (On Christian Hope): through prayer, as LOVE IS before others.
the school of hope, we become capable of NOT Jesus: “it shall not
great hope, and thus we become ministers BOASTFUL be so among
of hope for others. you… whoever
would be first
III. LOVE
among you must
IN GREEK, THERE ARE 4 MEANINGS OF LOVE: be your slave.”
Love is not ill-
 EPITHEMIA: desire; with connotation of lust mannered or
(sexual love) harsh; to love is
 EROS: drive toward union with others (self- to be gentle and
fulfillment) thoughtful. Those
 PHILIA: affectionate love (brothers, sisters) LOVE IS
who love are
 AGAPE: total dedication and devotion to NOT
capable of
the welfare of the other. RUDE
speaking words
 According to St. John, LOVE IS ROOTED IN of comfort,
THE ENTIRE LIFE, DEATH, RESURRECTION OF strength,
CHRIST (JOHN 3:16) consolation, and
 God is love (1 John 4:7-27) encouragement.
CHAPTER 6: CHRISTIAN VIRTUES PSYCH 3 (ABC)
An act of serving LOVE Love does not
others. “You HOPES despair of the
LOVE IS received without ALL future.
GENEROUS
pay, give without THINGS
pay” (Mt. 10:8) Love bears every
Renunciation of trial with a
a violent positive attitude.
reaction within, a It stands firm in
hidden irritation LOVE hostile
LOVE IS that sets us on ENDURES surroundings; it is
NOT edge where ALL love that never
IRRITABLE others are THINGS gives up even in
OR concerned, as if the darkest hour.
RESENTFUL
they were
troublesome or
threatening and
thus to be
avoided. Amor Concupiscentiae and Amor Benevolentiae
Love forgives;
LOVE takes no  Pope Benedict XVI- Deus Caritatis Est (On
DOES account of evil; Christian Love)
NOT “Father, forgive  The descending love- oblative love – agape:
REJOICE them; for they typically, Christian
AT don’t know what  The ascending love- possessive/covetous
WRONG they do” (Lk love- eros: typically, of non-Christian.
23:34)  Eros and agape can never be separated.
We rejoice at the The more this to find proper unity in their
good of others reality of love, the more the true nature of
when we see love in general is realized.
their dignity and  Man cannot live by oblative, descending
LOVE love alone. He cannot always give, he must
value their
REJOICES also receive.
abilities and
WITH
good works. “it is CARDINAL VIRTUES DISTINGUISHED FROM
OTHERS
more blessed to THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES
give than to
receive” (Acts  Theological Virtues: Gifts of God; not human
20:35) achievements, effects of diving grace.
Holding one’s  Theological virtues of faith, hope, and love,
peace about or charity cannot be acquired through the
LOVE what may be repetition of certain actions as normal habits
BEARS wrong with are.
ALL another person.  Cardinal Virtues can be acquired through
THINGS “judge not and the normal habits; can also be Christian
you will not be Virtues when they are associated with love.
judge” (Jas 3:6)
Love trusts; sets
LOVE free; does not try -good luck mga wang.
BELIEVES to control,
ALL possess and
THINGS dominate
everything.