The four cardinal virtues were first defined by 4th-century theologian Ambrose as "temperance, justice, prudence, and fortitude". These were also named as cardinal virtues by Augustine of Hippo, and were subsequently adopted by the Catholic Church. They are described as "human virtues" in the Catholic Catechism.[1]
Prior to Ambrose, these four qualities were identified by the Greek philosopher Plato as the necessary character traits of a good man, and were discussed by other ancient authors such as Cicero. They can also be found in the Jewish Book of Wisdom, which states that wisdom "teaches moderation and prudence, righteousness and fortitude, and nothing in life is more useful than these."[2]
The theological virtues are those named by Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 13: "So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."[3] The word "love" (agape in Greek) is translated in the King James Bible as "charity".
The traditional understanding of the difference between cardinal and theological virtues is that the latter are not fully accessible to humans in their natural state without assistance from God.[4]Thomas Aquinas believed that while the cardinal virtues could be formed through habitual practice, the theological virtues could only be practised by divine grace.[5]
Seven capital virtues
The seven capital virtues (also known as the contrary or remedial virtues)[6] are those thought to stand in opposition to the seven capital vices (or deadly sins).
Prudentius, writing in the 5th century, was the first author to allegorically represent Christian morality as a struggle between seven sins and seven virtues. His poem Psychomachia depicts a battle between female personifications of virtues and vices, with each virtue confronting and defeating a particular vice.[7] However, Prudentius did not base his allegory on the cardinal and theological virtues, nor did he use the traditional list of capital vices. The combatants in the Psychomachia are as follows:
The success of this work popularised the concept of capital virtues among medieval authors. In AD 590, the seven capital vices were revised by Pope Gregory I, which led to the creation of new lists of corresponding capital virtues. In modern times, the capital virtues are commonly identified as the following:[9]
Although some medieval authors attempted to contrast the capital vices with the heavenly virtues, such efforts were rare.[10] According to historian István P. Bejczy, "the capital vices are more often contrasted with the remedial or contrary virtues in medieval moral literature than with the principal virtues, while the principal virtues are frequently accompanied by a set of mirroring vices rather than by the seven deadly sins".[11]
^Waldron, Martin Augustine (1912). "Virtue". Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent.
^Marbaniang, Domenic (May 2019). "Theology and Ethics: An Introduction". Revive. 12 (5): 6.
^Bejczy, István P. (2011). The Cardinal Virtues in the Middle Ages. Boston: Brill. p. 225.
^Wieland, Gernot (1986). "Aldhelm's 'De Octo Vitiis Princip Alibus' and Prudentius' 'Psychomachia'". Medium Aevum. 55 (1): 85–86. doi:10.2307/43628952. JSTOR 43628952.
^S. Young, From the desert to the university: Parisian theologians and the seven deadly sins. In Scholarly Community at the Early University of Paris: Theologians, Education and Society, Cambridge University Press. pp. 168-207
^Siker, Jeffrey S. (2015). Jesus, Sin, and Perfection in Early Christianity. New York. p. 46. ISBN978-1-107-10541-6.
seven, virtues, christian, tradition, seven, heavenly, virtues, combine, four, cardinal, virtues, prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, with, three, theological, virtues, faith, hope, charity, seven, capital, virtues, also, known, contrary, remedial, virtu. In Christian tradition the seven heavenly virtues combine the four cardinal virtues of prudence justice temperance and fortitude with the three theological virtues of faith hope and charity The seven capital virtues also known as contrary or remedial virtues are those opposite the seven deadly sins They are often enumerated as chastity temperance charity diligence patience kindness and humility Contents 1 Seven heavenly virtues 1 1 Cardinal virtues 1 2 Theological virtues 2 Seven capital virtues 3 See also 4 ReferencesSeven heavenly virtues EditCardinal virtues Edit Main article Cardinal virtues The four cardinal virtues were first defined by 4th century theologian Ambrose as temperance justice prudence and fortitude These were also named as cardinal virtues by Augustine of Hippo and were subsequently adopted by the Catholic Church They are described as human virtues in the Catholic Catechism 1 Prior to Ambrose these four qualities were identified by the Greek philosopher Plato as the necessary character traits of a good man and were discussed by other ancient authors such as Cicero They can also be found in the Jewish Book of Wisdom which states that wisdom teaches moderation and prudence righteousness and fortitude and nothing in life is more useful than these 2 Theological virtues Edit Main article Theological virtues The theological virtues are those named by Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 13 So faith hope love remain these three but the greatest of these is love 3 The word love agape in Greek is translated in the King James Bible as charity The traditional understanding of the difference between cardinal and theological virtues is that the latter are not fully accessible to humans in their natural state without assistance from God 4 Thomas Aquinas believed that while the cardinal virtues could be formed through habitual practice the theological virtues could only be practised by divine grace 5 Seven capital virtues EditThe seven capital virtues also known as the contrary or remedial virtues 6 are those thought to stand in opposition to the seven capital vices or deadly sins Prudentius writing in the 5th century was the first author to allegorically represent Christian morality as a struggle between seven sins and seven virtues His poem Psychomachia depicts a battle between female personifications of virtues and vices with each virtue confronting and defeating a particular vice 7 However Prudentius did not base his allegory on the cardinal and theological virtues nor did he use the traditional list of capital vices The combatants in the Psychomachia are as follows Virtue Latin Sin LatinChastity Pudicitia Lust Sodomita LibidoFaith Fides Idolatry 8 Veterum Cultura DeorumGood Works Operatio Greed AvaritiaConcord Concordia Discord DiscordiaSobriety Sobrietas Indulgence LuxuriaPatience Patientia Wrath IraHumility Mens Humilis Pride SuperbiaThe success of this work popularised the concept of capital virtues among medieval authors In AD 590 the seven capital vices were revised by Pope Gregory I which led to the creation of new lists of corresponding capital virtues In modern times the capital virtues are commonly identified as the following 9 Virtue Latin Sin LatinChastity Castitas Lust LuxuriaTemperance Temperantia Gluttony GulaCharity Caritas Greed AvaritiaDiligence Diligentia Sloth AcediaKindness Humanitas Envy InvidiaPatience Patientia Wrath IraHumility Humilitas Pride SuperbiaAlthough some medieval authors attempted to contrast the capital vices with the heavenly virtues such efforts were rare 10 According to historian Istvan P Bejczy the capital vices are more often contrasted with the remedial or contrary virtues in medieval moral literature than with the principal virtues while the principal virtues are frequently accompanied by a set of mirroring vices rather than by the seven deadly sins 11 See also EditHoly obedience Aristotle s list of virtuesReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Seven Virtues Catechism of the Catholic Church 3 1 1 7 St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Wisdom 8 7 NABRE 1 Corinthians 13 13 NABRE Waldron Martin Augustine 1912 Virtue Catholic Encyclopedia New Advent Marbaniang Domenic May 2019 Theology and Ethics An Introduction Revive 12 5 6 Bejczy Istvan P 2011 The Cardinal Virtues in the Middle Ages Boston Brill p 225 Wieland Gernot 1986 Aldhelm s De Octo Vitiis Princip Alibus and Prudentius Psychomachia Medium Aevum 55 1 85 86 doi 10 2307 43628952 JSTOR 43628952 S Young From the desert to the university Parisian theologians and the seven deadly sins In Scholarly Community at the Early University of Paris Theologians Education and Society Cambridge University Press pp 168 207 Siker Jeffrey S 2015 Jesus Sin and Perfection in Early Christianity New York p 46 ISBN 978 1 107 10541 6 Bejczy 2011 pp 228 229 Bejczy 2011 p 233 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seven virtues amp oldid 1133337951, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
