2. What is a Virtue?
A virtue is “a habit or established capability for
performing good actions” (Farren, 2000, p.70).
Catholic virtues are classified in two categories
(Catholic, 1997).
Human/Natural virtues are acquired and
strengthened by performing good acts.
Supernatural virtues are given to us by God (Farren,
2000).

3. Virtues…
are good habits that help us do the right thing.
help guide us in what we do and in doing so they
make our lives more joyful and meaningful
(Lukefahr, 1996).
are excellences of character or disposition
(Evans, 2002).

4. What are not virtues?
The opposite of virtues are vices.
In Catholic thought the greatest of the vices are
called the seven deadly sins.
Those sins are: Pride, lust, avarice, wrath,
gluttony, sloth, and envy (Farren, 2000; Lukefahr,
1990).
They give rise to more sins (Farren, 2000) and
they are at the center of most sinful decisions
and actions (Lukefahr, 1990).

5. References
Catholic Church. (1997). Catechism of the Catholic
Church. New York, NY: Doubleday.
Evans, C. S. (2002). Pocket dictionary of apologetics
and philosophy of religion. Leicester, UK: Inter-
Varsity Press.
Farren, J. A. (2000). Catholic word book. New Haven,
CT: Catholic Information Service.
Lukefahr, O. (1990). We believe…a survey of the
Catholic faith. Ligouri, MO: Ligouri.
Lukefahr, O. (1996). The catechism handbook.
Liguori, MO: Ligouri.