Part II, Chapter III — Virtues

§ 1. Virtues in General — Theological Virtues

227. What is virtue?

Virtue is a constant disposition of the soul to do good.

228. How many kinds of virtue are there?

There are two kinds of virtue: the natural virtues, which we acquire by repeating good acts, such as those called moral; and the supernatural virtues, which we cannot acquire and cannot even exercise by our own forces alone, but which are given to us by God, and which are the virtues proper to the Christian.

229. What are the virtues proper to the Christian?

The virtues proper to the Christian are the supernatural virtues, and especially faith, hope, and charity, which are called theological or divine, because they have God Himself as their object and motive.

230. How do we receive and exercise the supernatural virtues?

We receive the supernatural virtues together with sanctifying grace, by means of the sacraments or by the love of charity, and we exercise them with the actual graces of good thoughts and inspirations by which God moves and helps us in every good act.

231. Among the supernatural virtues, which is the most excellent?

Among the supernatural virtues, the most excellent is charity, because it is inseparable from sanctifying grace, unites us intimately to God and to our neighbor, moves us to the perfect observance of the Law and to every good work, and will never cease: in it lies Christian perfection.

Faith

232. What is faith?

Faith is that supernatural virtue by which we believe, on the authority of God, what He has revealed and proposes to us to be believed through the Church.

233. Where is preserved that which God has revealed and proposes to us to be believed through the Church?

That which God has revealed and proposes to us to be believed through the Church is preserved in Sacred Scripture and in Tradition.

234. What is Sacred Scripture?

Sacred Scripture is the collection of the books written by inspiration of God in the Old and the New Testament, and received by the Church as the work of God Himself.

235. What is Tradition?

Tradition is the teaching of Jesus Christ and of the Apostles, given by living voice, and transmitted by the Church to us without alteration.

236. Who can with authority make known to us, fully and in their true sense, the truths contained in Scripture and in Tradition?

The Church alone can with authority make known to us, fully and in their true sense, the truths contained in Scripture and in Tradition; for to her alone God entrusted the deposit of Faith, and sent the Holy Spirit, who continually assists her, so that she may not err.

237. Is it enough to believe in general the truths revealed by God?

It is not enough to believe in general the truths revealed by God; some — namely, the existence of God the Rewarder and the two principal mysteries — must also be believed by an explicit act of faith.

237 a. The two principal mysteries of the Faith are: 1. The Unity and Trinity of God; 2. The Incarnation, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

§ 2. Hope - Charity

238. What is hope?

Hope is that supernatural virtue by which we trust in God and expect from Him eternal life and the graces necessary to merit it here below by good works.

239. For what reason do we hope from God for eternal life and the graces necessary to merit it?

We hope from God for eternal life and the graces necessary to merit it because He, infinitely good and faithful, has promised them to us through the merits of Jesus Christ; therefore one who distrusts or despairs offends Him gravely.

240. What is charity?

Charity is that supernatural virtue by which we love God for Himself above all things, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.

241. Why must we love God?

We must love God for Himself, as the supreme Good, the source of all our good; and therefore we must also love Him above all things "with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength" (Mark XII. 30).

242. Why must we love our neighbor?

We must love our neighbor for the love of God, who commands it, and because every man is created in the image of God, as we are, and is our brother.

243. Are we bound to love even our enemies?

We are bound to love even our enemies, forgiving offenses, because they too are our neighbor, and because Jesus Christ has expressly commanded it.

244. When must we make acts of faith, hope, and charity?

We must make acts of faith, hope, and charity many times in life, and in particular when we have temptations to overcome or important Christian duties to fulfill, and in the dangers of death.

245. Is it good to make acts of faith, hope, and charity often?

It is good to make acts of faith, hope, and charity often, in order to preserve, increase, and strengthen virtues so necessary, which are like the vital parts of the "spiritual man."

246. How must we make acts of faith, hope, and charity?

We must make acts of faith, hope, and charity with the heart, with the mouth, and by works, giving proof of them in our conduct.

247. How does one give proof of faith?

One gives proof of faith by professing and defending it, when needed, without fear and without human respect, and by living according to its maxims: "faith without works is dead" (James II. 26).

248. How does one give proof of hope?

One gives proof of hope by not being troubled by the miseries and contrarieties of life, nor even by persecutions, but by living resigned, sure of the promises of God.

249. How does one give proof of charity?

One gives proof of charity by observing the commandments and exercising the works of mercy, and, if God calls, by following the evangelical counsels.

249 a. The seven corporal works of mercy: 1. To feed the hungry; 2. To give drink to the thirsty; 3. To clothe the naked; 4. To shelter the homeless; 5. To visit the sick; 6. To visit the imprisoned; 7. To bury the dead.

249 b. The seven spiritual works of mercy: 1. To counsel the doubtful; 2. To instruct the ignorant; 3. To admonish sinners; 4. To comfort the afflicted; 5. To forgive offences; 6. To bear wrongs patiently; 7. To pray for the living and the dead.

250. What are the evangelical counsels?

The evangelical counsels are exhortations that Jesus Christ made in the Gospel to a more perfect life, by the practice of virtues that are not commanded.

251. What are the principal evangelical counsels?

The principal evangelical counsels are: voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity, and perfect obedience.

§ 3. Moral Virtues and Vices — Evangelical Beatitudes

252. What is moral virtue?

Moral virtue is the habit of doing good, acquired by repeating good acts.

253. What are the principal moral virtues?

The principal moral virtues are: religion, which makes us render to God the worship due to Him, and the four cardinal virtues — prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance — which make us upright in our living.

254. Why are the cardinal virtues so called?

The cardinal virtues are so called because they are the hinge — that is, the support — of the other moral virtues.

255. What is prudence?

Prudence is the virtue that directs acts to their due end, and makes us discern and use good means.

256. What is justice?

Justice is the virtue that makes us give to each one what is due to him.

257. What is fortitude?

Fortitude is the virtue that makes us face, without rashness and without timidity, any difficulty or danger, and even death, for the service of God and for the good of our neighbor.

258. What is temperance?

Temperance is the virtue that bridles the passions and the desires, especially the sensual ones, and moderates the use of the goods perceived by the senses.

259. What are the passions?

The passions are emotions or violent movements of the soul which, if not moderated by reason, drag us toward vice and often even toward crime.

260. What is vice?

Vice is the habit of doing evil, acquired by repeating evil acts.

261. What are the principal vices?

The principal vices are the seven capital vices, so called because they are the head and the origin of the other vices and sins.

261 a. The seven capital sins: 1. Pride; 2. Covetousness; 3. Lust; 4. Anger; 5. Gluttony; 6. Envy; 7. Sloth.

262. What are the virtues opposed to the capital vices?

The virtues opposed to the capital vices are: humility, liberality, chastity, patience, sobriety, fraternity, and diligence in the service of God.

263. Did Jesus Christ recommend any moral virtue in particular?

Jesus Christ recommended in particular some moral virtues, calling blessed, in the eight Evangelical Beatitudes, those who would practice them.

264. Recite the Evangelical Beatitudes.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. V. 3-10).

265. Why did Jesus Christ, in the Evangelical Beatitudes, call blessed — contrary to the opinion of the world — the humble and the afflicted?

Jesus Christ, in the Evangelical Beatitudes, called blessed — contrary to the opinion of the world — the humble and the afflicted, because they will have a special reward from God; and He taught us also to imitate them, without heeding the deceitful maxims of the world.

266. Can those who follow the maxims of the world be truly happy?

Those who follow the maxims of the world cannot be truly happy, because they do not seek God, their Lord and their true happiness; and so they have no peace of conscience, and walk toward perdition.