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We called him Pappas.
He was my dad’s dad. A father of 13 children and 30-something grandchildren.
He used to walk every day.
It was a heavy-footed, sometimes labored, stomp. Head down, determined, dedicated. Round and round his indoor pool when the weather was bad, or around the lake when the sun was shining.
And in his hands, he held his “beads.”
His Rosary beads.
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Virtues are the building blocks of a holy life. They’re the characteristics of how our relationship with Jesus is played out daily.
Virtue is tied up in our spiritual life.
So, don’t try to be virtuous for the sake of self-improvement.
Instead, try to practice virtue for the sake of growing closer to Christ, for the sake of being more like Him, whom we’re made in the image of.
“The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.”
– CCC 1803 quoting St. Gregory of Nyssa
Here’s the deal… I’m not a pro at virtue. I love studying them because I desire so much to grow in them.
So today, I’m going to introduce you to each of the theological and cardinal virtues, but I’m also going to draw on the wisdom of other bloggers who’ve been so amazing to share their knowledge and experience with us!
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Why did God make me?
God made me to know, love, and serve him in this life, in order to be happy with him in the next life.
The most important thing in our life is our faith in God. The further we stray from our purpose in life, the less we will find happiness, joy, and fulfillment.
God created us for him.
We find ourselves in responding to him.
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Take care of the world you live in.
No, I’m not going to go on some sort of global warming, overpopulation, save the ocean tirade.
I don’t even think we have a “responsibility” to the earth.
However, I feel very strongly that we have a responsibility to God to take care of the world he has given us.
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My kids looked up from their game of Oregon Trail and asked, “Mom, how did the whole family fit all their stuff into one wagon when they moved?”
This was in stark contrast to our recent move: a whole van full of our furniture, toys, clothes, books (so many books!), gadgets – and then some.
How do we accumulate so much stuff?
And, how do we treat the stuff we accumulate?
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My four-year-old snuck a beaded glass bracelet from my jewelry display. I discovered her theft when she approached me with a downcast fast, hand outstretched, broken bracelet in her upturned palm.
“Can you fix it, Mommy?”
Thankfully, I was able to piece it back together. But my daughter learned a few lessons that day. She has to take care of Mommy’s things. And she has to wait to receive the things she’s ready for.
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A modern examination of conscience. (But not too modern… we’re loyal to the teachings of the Catholic Church here!)
Have you ever felt overcome with compassion for someone who is suffering?
The man with a cardboard sign on the side of the road. The family who lost everything in a home fire. The child who broke a glass and weeps tears of remorse.
Compassion moves our heart to break for them, to cry for them. Mercy puts compassion in motion. It’s the virtue that acts on our sympathy, extending kindness and forgiveness to our neighbor in need. Continue reading
A modern examination of conscience. (But not too modern… we’re loyal to the teachings of the Catholic Church here!) This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Chastity and modesty. Two virtues that are necessary for bridging the gap between the physical and the spiritual. They’re necessary for living as a fully alive, integrated human being. And they’re all about authentic love.
Chastity helps us authentically live our sexuality. It helps us know ourselves, body and soul. The Catechism says it’s both an “apprenticeship in self-mastery” and a “school of the gift of the person.”
We come to know ourselves, to order our appetites, and to be able to give ourselves to each other in perfect love. Continue reading
A modern examination of conscience. (But not too modern… we’re loyal to the teachings of the Catholic Church here!)
When we talk about virtues, we sometimes try to put them into practice in a restrictive sense:
Even the 10 commandments guide us with “thou shalt not”s.
And that’s a good thing. We need to have healthy boundaries in our lives and avoid things that would harm us physically and spiritually.
But this month’s virtue breaks the mold. Fortitude calls us to action. Fortitude tells us “thou shalt.” Continue reading
A modern examination of conscience. (But not too modern… we’re loyal to the teachings of the Catholic Church here!) The Temperance Challenge is also available in Spanish.
I didn’t want to write this challenge. Because Oreos. And Netflix. And Facebook infinite scroll.
I didn’t want to write it. But I needed to. Over-indulgence is so. hard. to. resist.
My mouth waters when I pass by the grid of fast food restaurants in the middle of town. My tablet glows late into the night when I can’t stop swiping. And my ears perk up when I hear someone say, “Do you know what she said to me last week?”
Oh, temperance, you’re so elusive. I need you bad but I don’t really want you. Continue reading
