The Importance of Virtue
By: Missionary Team
What is Virtue? This is the question which I ask of you. What is it? Why is it important? Why should we be striving to have it? These are questions that are asked all too frequently, but so frequently there is no good answer. Well to help answer this question, let's take a look at the Catholic Catechism, which there is something big to be said about virtue.
"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." 62
A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts but to give the best of him or herself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions.
This is what the Catechism says about virtue. And this is what I say about virtue, you can't get far in life, nor enter heaven without virtue. There are what we call the human virtues and these are what we can use on a daily basis. These virtues are what keep our hearts and minds set on God. The human virtues are a firm attitude, they are stable dispositions, habitual perfections of intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions, and guide our conduct according to reason and above all faith. The virtues make possible ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally upright life. The virtuous man is he who freely practices the good.
If you google Virtue it will come up with this answer “Virtue (Latin: virtus) is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness.” Moral excellence. Now that is a fine term to use. Moral excellence is doing what is right and avoiding doing what is wrong. Already with that term we see one reason why virtue is important.
The term being a “virtuous person” means that this person follows God’s Will and strives to avoid all occasions of sin. Virtue is also needed to help us get to heaven as well as lead others to heaven. Leading by example is best done when you are living a virtuous life. If you lead others by your virtues not only will your virtue become stronger but those around you will be able to grow in their virtue as well.
Virtue is important because it gives us the strength to push through. If you are living a morally bad life, you will find everything is much harder, every little job seems to be the biggest burden to carry. But when you live a virtuous life that is morally sound, you will be able to take on even the hardest job with a smile on your face, and you will have the grace of God flowing through you more and more. You will be much stronger and much more resilient.
These are a few of my thoughts on the matter of virtues. I hope it makes sense to the world and all of you reading this blog. One more thing though before this is finished from the Catechism: “The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.”63 That's it! That's all there is to it! The reason why virtue is important is because it helps us become like God, loving, merciful, and generous.
