Day 241: The Cardinal Virtues

Four virtues play a pivotal role and accordingly are called "cardinal"; all the others are grouped around them. They are: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. "If anyone loves righteousness, [Wisdom's] labors are virtues; for she teaches temperance and prudence, justice, and courage." These virtues are praised under other names in many passages of Scripture. CCC 1805

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses the cardinal virtues. The human virtues are "stable dispositions, habitual perfections of intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions, and guide our conduct according to reason and faith". The cardinal virtues quotes above are "acquired through human effort" and "make possible ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally good life" (CCC 1804). Each of these virtues contributes something of great value to leading a moral life and becoming a virtuous man. Probably my favorite of the explanations of these virtues is the one on prudence. As the Catechism notes:

It is called auriga virtutum (the charioteer of the virtues); it guides the other virtues by setting rules and measures. It is prudence that immediately guides the judgment of conscience. The prudent man determines and directs his conduct in accordance with this judgment. With the help of this virtue, we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid. (CCC 1806)

The Catechism Compendium gives a good summary of the other three cardinal virtues:

Justice consists in the firm and constant will to give to others their due. Justice toward God is called “the virtue of religion.”

Fortitude assures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It reaches even to the ability of possibly sacrificing one’s own life for a just cause.

Temperance moderates the attraction of pleasures, assures the mastery of the will over instincts, and provides balance in the use of created goods. (#381-383)

The Catechism Companion, Vol II has some good commentary on this:

The moral life is a life of freedom. To embrace responsibility and choose to live according to the Commandments is to ultimately live a life of freedom and of happiness... A virtue is not about occasionally doing what is good. What makes a person virtuous is not sometimes telling the truth or being prudent or temperate... A person who has virtue does what is good without being forced to do it. But it takes human effort. We have to discipline ourselves, bear fruit in trial, and embrace God's grace. (p. 246)