Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 299 – Part IV.

YOUCAT Question n.  299 - Part IV. What is meant by a “virtue”?

(Youcat answer - repeated) A virtue is an interior disposition, a positive habit, a passion that has been placed at the service of the good.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1809 a) Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart" (Sir 5:2; cf. 37:27-31). Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites" (Sir 18:30). In the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety." We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world" (Titus 2:12).

    

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). That means that we must change on our way to God. By our human abilities we can do that only in fits and starts. With his grace God supports the human virtues and gives us, above and beyond that, the so-called supernatural virtues ( 305), which help us to come closer to God and live more securely in his light.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1809 b)  To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence) (St. Augustine, De moribus eccl. 1, 25, 46: PL 32, 1330-1331). (CCC 1822) Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. 

(This question: What is meant by a “virtue”? is continued)