Catechism index

1826 II. The Theological Virtues "If I . . . have not charity," says the Apostle, "I am nothing." Whatever my privilege, service, or even virtue, "if I . . . have not charity, I gain nothing." …
1827 II. The Theological Virtues The practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity, which "binds everything together in perfect harmony"; 105 it is the form of the virtues; it articulates and orders them …
1828 II. The Theological Virtues The practice of the moral life animated by charity gives to the Christian the spiritual freedom of the children of God. He no longer stands before God as a slave, in servile …
1829 If we turn away from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of slaves. If we pursue the enticement of wages, . . . we resemble mercenaries. Finally if we obey for the sake of the good itself and out of love for him who commands . . . we are in the position of children. 107 The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction; it is benevolence; it fosters reciprocity and remains disinterested and generous; it is friendship and communion: Love …
1830 III. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
1831 III. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. 109 They complete …
1832 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God . . . If children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. 111 The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. the tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, …
1833 IN BRIEF Virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do good.
1834 IN BRIEF The human virtues are stable dispositions of the intellect and the will that govern our acts, order our passions, and guide our conduct in accordance with reason and faith. They can be …
1835 IN BRIEF Prudence disposes the practical reason to discern, in every circumstance, our true good and to choose the right means for achieving it.
1836 IN BRIEF Justice consists in the firm and constant will to give God and neighbor their due.
1837 IN BRIEF Fortitude ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.
1838 IN BRIEF Temperance moderates the attraction of the pleasures of the senses and provides balance in the use of created goods.
1839 IN BRIEF The moral virtues grow through education, deliberate acts, and perseverance in struggle. Divine grace purifies and elevates them.
1840 IN BRIEF The theological virtues dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have God for their origin, their motive, and their object - God known by faith, God hoped …
1841 IN BRIEF There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. They inform all the moral virtues and give life to them.
1842 IN BRIEF By faith, we believe in God and believe all that he has revealed to us and that Holy Church proposes for our belief.
1843 IN BRIEF By hope we desire, and with steadfast trust await from God, eternal life and the graces to merit it.
1844 IN BRIEF By charity, we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God. Charity, the form of all the virtues, "binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col 3:14).
1845 IN BRIEF The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon Christians are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Previous - Next Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana