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Cardinal and Theological

Virtues in the Catholic Church

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CARDINAL VIRTUES
The cardinal virtues are the four primary
moral virtues. The English word cardinal
comes from the Latin wordcardo, which
means "hinge."
All other virtues hinge upon these four
virtues. The cardinal virtues can be
practiced by anyone, religious or non
religious.
(Scott P. Richert)

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Cardinal Virtues
There are four cardinal virtues

a) Prudence

b) Justice

c) Fortitude

d)Temperance

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Prudence
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Practical judgment.
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An example of prudence is organizing your

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study time before an exam.

Staying home before a final instead of going to a
football or basketball game.
Prudence asks the question,What is the right
thing to do in this particular situation? (common
sense).

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Dramatization

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Justice

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Justice is the virtue that reminds us that the

people with whom we share our world
have rights and that, as much as possible,
all people deserve to have basic needs
met.
In other words, justice is the virtue that
explicitly ranks our own good as equal to
the common good, the good of all people.

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Temperance is the virtue that refers to self
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regulating the amount of food we eat or

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Temperance

control in general. If we are incapable of

the amount of alcohol we consume, then

we are not truly free.
Temperance is primarily concerned with the
control of the desires of the flesh, but
when it manifests itself as modesty, it can
also restrain the desires of the spirit, such
as pride.

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Fortitude
Fortitude is simply a fancy term for the virtue that
the cowardly lion requests from the wizard of
Oz-courage.
It ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in
the pursuit of the good.
The challenge is to stand up for what is right in the
face of peer pressure or in circumstances when
we are being called upon to step out of our usual
patterns of behavior. Without the courage to act,
all the other virtues are useless.

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THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

The Theological Virtues

are gifts of God through
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grace.

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(Scott P. Richert)

Dramatization

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Theological Virtues
Theological virtues are rooted in God and
reflect Gods presence in our lives.
The three Theological virtues are the
following:
a) Faith
b) Hope
c)Love (Charity)

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Faith
Faith is the virtue by which we recognize
that God exists and that Gods very
existence holds moral implications for us.
Faith is believing in God and being faithful to
him.
Faith requires openness and trust. Faith
-inaction involves trying to discover what is
Gods will and then acting accordingly.

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Hope

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Hope is trusting in God, in everything that Christ
has promised, and in the help of the Holy Spirit.

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Hope is intimately tied to responsibility. It is future

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oriented and means taking seriously the

consequences of our actions.
Jesus provides hope that, no matter how hopeless
our current circumstances appear and despite
trials and setbacks, in the end all will be well.
Never Give up!

Love

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Love is the theological virtue representing

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the virtue that places concern for God,

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the core of the Christian moral life. Love is

manifest especially through concern for

others, above everything else.
The Catechism defines love in the words of
the medieval theologian Saint Thomas
Aquinas, To love is to will the good of
another.

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Love (cont.)
Every other virtue that we might practice
represents some dimension of love: every time
we practice a virtue, we are giving expression to
love. Pretty much love is the core virtue and
when we practice any virtue, we are practicing
love.
Moral laws are norms for love: moral principals are
the principles of love. Sin indicates a failure to
love.
Moral decision making is the process of practicing
the art of love.

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