Virtue

            At this point, I think this is a word that is losing its meaning in the actual world. Not that before it had more meaning, but at least was recognized as a fundamental part of the character of the individual.

What is virtue? 1. General moral excellence; right action and thinking; goodness or morality. 2. A specific moral quality regarded as good or meritorious. 3. Chastity, esp. in a woman. 4. Effective force or power: believe in the virtue of prayer. The cardinal virtues are the basic virtues of ancient Greek philosophy: justice, prudence, fortitude, and temperance. Those considered as the chief Christian moral theologians, e.g. St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas, took over this classification from Plato and Aristotle. The theological virtues are the three virtues (faith, hope and charity [love]) that have God as their immediate object. These three virtues are grouped together by St. Paul (I Cor. 13:13; cf. I Thess. 1:3; Gal. 5:5-6; Col. 1:4-5 as the bases of the Christian life.

While St. Paul put it together, we should not forget that these virtues are rooted in the Old Testament. This do not discredited what the ancient philosophers did with the cardinal virtues, because the cardinal or natural virtues also are a part of the Christian life. Let me quote what Paul wrote to the Philippians as he was encouraging them in their Christian life: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Phil. 4:8).

As many people is watching things and thinking different, maybe it is the hour to turn our eyes and thoughts to virtue, do not you think so?