Open Source Edition

Article 7. The Virtues

1803

“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.”1

A virtue is an 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. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions.

The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.2

Subsections
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I. The Human Virtues
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II. The Theological Virtues
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III. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
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In Brief
Footnotes
  1. Phil 4:8.

  2. St. Gregory of Nyssa, De beatitudinibus, 1: PG 44, 1200D.