What is a Virtue?
The word "virtue" is from a Latin word, virtutem, which means "moral strength."
A virtue, then, is a way we are strong in spirit. The more we practice the virtues, the stronger our souls become!
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled"
- Matthew 5:6
Why Virtue Formation?
The notion of virtue is deeply rooted in Catholic Christian tradition. It is in a community of caring, committed partners that we find the space and time to become our best selves.
The main thing to remember is that virtue is increased by two things: practice and prayer.
By practicing the virtues, we develop habits of goodness that help us to resist the temptation of vice. Practicing virtue also gets us ready to contribute to the good of all people.In a school community, virtue formation contributes to a healthy positive learning environment by fostering a climate in which all members feel safe, confident and hope-filled about themselves, their relationships and their futures.
By praying, we receive the grace of God to continue to concentrate on finding ways to follow Jesus' example in all that we say and do.
A virtue is a habit or established capability to perform good actions according to a moral standard. In other words, a virtue is a habit that shows people and God that I am a good person.
Virtues Build Strength
- When you need to get your bodystrong, you exercise and eat right.
- When you need to get your mind strong, you read and do all you can to learn new things.
- When you need to get your soul strong, you practice the virtues.
Each month we will look at developing one of these virtues:
- Faith
- Empathy
- Conscience
- Hope
- Self-control
- Respect
- Kindness
- Love
- Acceptance
God has given us the ability to form connections with each other - to live together. Empathy helps us to connect and live together in safe, caring, inclusive communities.
We understand empathy to mean the ability to identify with and feel other people's concerns. We believe that in a faith community we are nothing without relationships. Relationships that grow in a spirit of communion- an understanding that we share an identity based on being created in the image and likeness of God and being imbued with one Spirit. We are many parts of one body.
An empathetic person believes that we all share one Spirit; that we are many parts of one body because we are all created in the image and likeness of God.
An empathetic person…
Listens attentivelyWatches people's body languageNotices and responds when someone is upsetCan name her/his feelings Can see a situation from another person's point of viewKnows that different people may feel differently about the same thing
OUR DAILY PRAYER FOR OCTOBER
Let us now pray… for the grace and strength to be people of empathy – people who can really identify with and feel the concerns of those around us.
AMEN
Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
(2 Cor 1:3-7)