Virtues and the Necessity of Virtue

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions of virtues, vices, the cardinal and theological virtues, and key concepts from Lessons 11 and 12.

Virtue

A habit of doing good.

Vice

A habit of doing evil.

Cardinal Virtues

Moral virtues developed through human effort with God’s grace that help us recognize good and evil and choose what is good.

Theological Virtues

Faith, hope, and charity; gifts from God infused into our souls, first at Baptism, that directly relate us and unite us to Him.

St. Gregory of Nyssa

The saint who stated, “The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.”

Prudence

Helps us recognize what is good and right and choose the best way to act.

Justice

Helps us respect others’ rights and treat people fairly.

Fortitude

Gives us strength to resist evil and face difficulties.

Temperance

Helps us control our desires and feelings and avoid extremes.

Faith

God’s gift that helps us believe in Him, His promises, and His Church.

Hope

God’s gift that helps us trust His promises and desire Heaven and eternal happiness.

Charity (Love)

God’s gift that helps us love Him above all things and love our neighbor as ourselves; the greatest virtue because it is at the heart of every other virtue and will remain forever.

Fruit and Seed of Good Acts

A phrase describing the moral virtues, indicating that good actions produce virtue, and virtue leads to more good actions.

Baptism

The sacrament where the theological virtues (faith, hope, and charity) are first infused into our souls in seed form.

1 Corinthians 13:13

“So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Galatians 5:25

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.”