Got Virtues?

What exactly is a virtue? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 1803): A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. Ok, makes sense. But what exactly do virtues look like? There are two forms of virtue: human and theological. Human virtues include loyalty, honesty, compassion, courage, self-discipline and restraint, responsibility and a sense of duty. Basically, our moral standards. Theological virtues are faith, hope and charity (love). These virtues are a direct connection to God. We are gifted with these virtues at Baptism, leading us to live moral lives. Can you see how practicing faith, hope and charity lead to acquiring the human virtues we all must strive for? 

Living a virtuous life takes practice and dedication. It means changing our way of thinking and acting. It means making choices which lead you to Christ and His Kingdom. And, it may not always be what feels good at the moment. Perseverance, my friends. 

Todays Gospel (2 Peter 1:2-7) encourages us to "make every effort" in living a moral life. In other words, practice:

Beloved: May grace and peace be yours in abundance through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.

In Anne a lay apostle’s book Lessons in Love, she compassionately reassures us of God's Mercy in our humanness: 

“We may say, ‘It is too hard. I cannot do it. I will never succeed.’ But most people initially feel this way when they begin to work on a virtue. If we turn away, giving up, what we are really saying is, ‘I do not want this virtue.’ This is fair enough. Our free will allows for this, but we must be honest and admit that we are refusing to try rather than make a claim that God has made it impossible for us to succeed. Who is to judge success? Only God is the legitimate judge of success and failure with regard to humanity and our struggle with any of the virtues. There is a reason for the Sacrament of Confession. God’s expectations are realistic. He expects us to struggle at times, meaning, to be perfectly clear, He knows that we will sin and He also hopes that we will repent. Even the greatest saints sinned, repented, then tried again.”

Today, lay apostles, think about the above virtues where you lack perseverance.  Are you demonstrating self-control in relationships, in caring for your body or in controlling your anger? Are you struggling with your faith? Get your theological virtues in order first.  Master them and human virtues become much easier to achieve.

Thank you, Lord, for loving me while I learn to master virtues I have struggled with in the past and forgive me when I temporarily slip into old habits. 

God bless,

Bonnie