“If anyone loves righteousness, (Wisdom’s) labors are virtues; for she teaches temperance and prudence, justice, and courage.” – Wisdom 8:7
In the previous four columns, I wrote about the four “cardinal” virtues – prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.
To recap, from Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1803, 1804, human virtues are firm attitudes, stable dispositions, habitual perfections of intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions and guide our conduct according to reason and faith. They make possible ease, self-mastery and joy in leading a morally good life.
The moral virtues are acquired by human effort. They are the fruit and seed of morally good acts; they dispose all the powers of the human being for communion with divine love. 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.
With each of these four virtues, God is also there with us. We sometimes in our “religious” life, in our praise, our worship, our evangelization, whatever, forget that we are His children. We are able to call God Father, not in some metaphorical or analogical sense, but really as our Father. What do good fathers (parents) do with their children? Love them, work with them, help them.
“Human virtues acquired by education, by deliberate acts and by a perseverance ever-renewed in repeated efforts are purified and elevated by divine grace. With God’s help, they forge character and give facility in the practice of the good. The virtuous man is happy to practice them.” (CCC 1810)
“It is not easy for man, wounded by sin, to maintain moral balance. Christ’s gift of salvation offers us the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of the virtues. Everyone should always ask for this grace of light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and follow his calls to love what is good and shun evil.” (CCC 1811).
How to become virtuous? St. Thomas writes, “Vicious habits are caused by evil acts. Much more, therefore, can virtuous habits be caused by good acts.
“…(E)verything that is … moved by another is disposed by the action of the agent … if the acts be multiplied, a certain quality is formed in the power which is … moved, which quality is called a habit … the habits of moral virtue are caused in the appetitive powers according as they are moved by the reason.
“(W)e see that because fire cannot at once overcome the combustible, it does not enkindle at once, but … gradually. … Now it is clear that … reason cannot entirely overcome the appetitive power in one act. … Therefore a habit of virtue cannot be caused by one act, but only by many.”
In other words, if you want to be virtuous (and, consequently, truly, deeply happy), you need to practice. Name one thing that is worthwhile that doesn’t require work and practice.
In his book Practical Theology: Spiritual Direction from St. Thomas Aquinas, Peter Kreeft notes, “It begins in the mind and will, with thinking and deciding. ‘Sow a thought, reap an act. Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.’
“It has to be gradual. Every good choice makes the next one easier and more delightful. Every bad one also makes the next bad one easier and more delightful.
“Reason can instantly see a truth, but it cannot instantly convince the will to form a habit of choosing the good, and it cannot instantly tame the appetites. The appetites are like dogs or horses; training takes a long time.”
Where to begin? As we said at the outset, prudence requires the other three virtues, so we can’t start there. It seems a good place to start would be temperance. Have you ever started out to do something and your body would not cooperate or would “slow you down?” Fatigue, hunger, aches, etc.
At the same time, begin to reinvigorate your religious life. Realize many saints have “been there, done that.” The sacraments, the Holy Spirit, are all there for you.
Rest assured, know that you are not alone on your path for a virtuous life. Your success will pay dividends for you and will be an inspiration to others. Holiness and happiness are contagious!