Human Virtues Defined
This past week I have been focusing on the teachings of Opus Dei founder, St. Josemaria Escriva. In today's blog I will focus exclusively on his teaching on, "Human Virtues".
The study of virtue for me has been a great passion of mine. My passion was originally kindled when I read Steven Covey's landmark work, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. In the second habit of the book, "Begin with the End in Mind" Covey exhorts his readers to develop their own mission, purpose statements. The reasoning behind this is that once one creates a compelling map of the future based on personal values then one will have a greater chance of achieving his stated outcome. The beauty of this approach is that it is entirely value driven as opposed to materially driven. It's stated ends are not for the sole acquirement of riches, prestige, and material success. The overall goal is for the successful integration of the person's deeply held beliefs. Covey believes once a person achieves this integration then that person is truly ready to live, to make an impact in this world.
Similarly St. Josemaria Escriva in his homily, "Human Virtues" defines 10 specific virtues that can help a person in realizing their natural God given potential. I will attempt to summarize each of these virtues in the most concise fashion possible. But before I begin I want to quote Escriva and his specific beliefs about the virtue as it pertains to the Catholic walk as he states,
"If we accept the responsibility of being children of God, we will realize that God wants us to be very human. Our heads should indeed be touching heaven, but our feet should be firmly on the ground. The price of living as Christians is not that of ceasing to be human or of abandoning the effort to acquire those virtues which some have even without knowing Christ. The price paid for each Christian is the redeeming blood of our Lord and he, I insist wants us to be both very human and very divine, struggling each day to imitate him who is perfectus Deus, perfectus homo."(Perfectly God, Perfectly Human) (p.115)
So here is are the list human virtues that Escriva considers as most important in the spiritual life:
1) Fortitude: Fortitude is the virtue of finishing a task no matter the obstacles and challenges as Escriva teaches, "The person with fortitude is one who perseveres in doing what his conscience tells him he ought to do. He does not measure the value of a task exclusively by the benefit he receives from it, but rather by the service he renders to others." (p. 117)
This virtue is the prerequisite for other virtues.
2) Patience: Patience according to Escriva is an offshoot of hope and fortitude. Patience is the natural consequence of person who is able to finish a task, despite challenges, while resting confidently that his efforts will yield spiritual and temporal fruits.
3) Composure: Composure is the natural disposition of a person who has successfully practiced fortitude and patience. Composure allows the person to remain calm because one's identity is wrapped up in God and through this knowledge one is certain that things will work out in the end our as Escriva reflects, "We can keep calm because there is always forgiveness and because their is a solution for everything...(p.119)
4) Magnanimity: Magnanimity is the natural disposition of generosity, of charity and a general concern for others and their success. Magnanimity is the child of charity allowing one to live successfully outside of one's petty self.
5) Industriousness, diligence: These virtues are identical and help one to make the best use of one's natural abilities and talents as Escriva preaches, "The diligent man does not rush into into things. He does work thoughtfully and lovingly." (p.121) These virtues are central to Opus Dei which seek the daily sanctification of daily work.
6) Truthfulness: Truthfulness is the ability to be honest in all affairs in life the trivial and the great.
7) Justice: Justice is the child of truthfulness as Escriva defines, "Justice means giving to each his due." Justice also motivates the person to look out for the well fare of others especially those in most need.
8) Prudence: Prudence is simply defined as deciding the best course of action.
9) Temperance: Temperance is defined simply as possessing self mastery. Another synonym of temperance is moderation. This virtue allows the person to successively control his/her impulses and sublimate those desires for greater ends.
10) Wisdom: Wisdom can be defined as possessing right knowledge that comes through the successful integration of each of these virtues. St. Thomas Aquinas outlines the way wisdom is manifested in three distinct ways: to seek advice, to judge correctly, and to decide. Wisdom is the end and glue that holds each of these virtues together.
It is my prayer and hope that we apply these virtues into our lives.
The study of virtue for me has been a great passion of mine. My passion was originally kindled when I read Steven Covey's landmark work, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. In the second habit of the book, "Begin with the End in Mind" Covey exhorts his readers to develop their own mission, purpose statements. The reasoning behind this is that once one creates a compelling map of the future based on personal values then one will have a greater chance of achieving his stated outcome. The beauty of this approach is that it is entirely value driven as opposed to materially driven. It's stated ends are not for the sole acquirement of riches, prestige, and material success. The overall goal is for the successful integration of the person's deeply held beliefs. Covey believes once a person achieves this integration then that person is truly ready to live, to make an impact in this world.
Similarly St. Josemaria Escriva in his homily, "Human Virtues" defines 10 specific virtues that can help a person in realizing their natural God given potential. I will attempt to summarize each of these virtues in the most concise fashion possible. But before I begin I want to quote Escriva and his specific beliefs about the virtue as it pertains to the Catholic walk as he states,
"If we accept the responsibility of being children of God, we will realize that God wants us to be very human. Our heads should indeed be touching heaven, but our feet should be firmly on the ground. The price of living as Christians is not that of ceasing to be human or of abandoning the effort to acquire those virtues which some have even without knowing Christ. The price paid for each Christian is the redeeming blood of our Lord and he, I insist wants us to be both very human and very divine, struggling each day to imitate him who is perfectus Deus, perfectus homo."(Perfectly God, Perfectly Human) (p.115)
So here is are the list human virtues that Escriva considers as most important in the spiritual life:
1) Fortitude: Fortitude is the virtue of finishing a task no matter the obstacles and challenges as Escriva teaches, "The person with fortitude is one who perseveres in doing what his conscience tells him he ought to do. He does not measure the value of a task exclusively by the benefit he receives from it, but rather by the service he renders to others." (p. 117)
This virtue is the prerequisite for other virtues.
2) Patience: Patience according to Escriva is an offshoot of hope and fortitude. Patience is the natural consequence of person who is able to finish a task, despite challenges, while resting confidently that his efforts will yield spiritual and temporal fruits.
3) Composure: Composure is the natural disposition of a person who has successfully practiced fortitude and patience. Composure allows the person to remain calm because one's identity is wrapped up in God and through this knowledge one is certain that things will work out in the end our as Escriva reflects, "We can keep calm because there is always forgiveness and because their is a solution for everything...(p.119)
4) Magnanimity: Magnanimity is the natural disposition of generosity, of charity and a general concern for others and their success. Magnanimity is the child of charity allowing one to live successfully outside of one's petty self.
5) Industriousness, diligence: These virtues are identical and help one to make the best use of one's natural abilities and talents as Escriva preaches, "The diligent man does not rush into into things. He does work thoughtfully and lovingly." (p.121) These virtues are central to Opus Dei which seek the daily sanctification of daily work.
6) Truthfulness: Truthfulness is the ability to be honest in all affairs in life the trivial and the great.
7) Justice: Justice is the child of truthfulness as Escriva defines, "Justice means giving to each his due." Justice also motivates the person to look out for the well fare of others especially those in most need.
8) Prudence: Prudence is simply defined as deciding the best course of action.
9) Temperance: Temperance is defined simply as possessing self mastery. Another synonym of temperance is moderation. This virtue allows the person to successively control his/her impulses and sublimate those desires for greater ends.
10) Wisdom: Wisdom can be defined as possessing right knowledge that comes through the successful integration of each of these virtues. St. Thomas Aquinas outlines the way wisdom is manifested in three distinct ways: to seek advice, to judge correctly, and to decide. Wisdom is the end and glue that holds each of these virtues together.
It is my prayer and hope that we apply these virtues into our lives.
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