YOUCAT Question n. 299 - Part V. 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 1810) 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 1811)
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.
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 1812) The human virtues are rooted in the theological
virtues, which adapt man's faculties for participation in the divine nature
(Cf. 2 Pet 1:4): for the theological virtues relate directly to God. They
dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have
the One and Triune God for their origin, motive, and object. (CCC 1815) The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned
against it (Cf. Council of Trent (1547): DS 1545). But "faith apart from
works is dead" (Jas 2:26): when it is deprived of hope and love, faith
does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living
member of his Body.
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