Page 7 - Michael Journal 2019 August

The Four Cardinal Virtues “You shall not steal.”

Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance Reflections on the 7th Commandment of God

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church” offers one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense The greatest in- erty and threatened by vio-
the following reflections on the four Cardinal Virtues of a just cause. "The Lord is my strength and my song." heritance that St. lence. The appropriation of
(1803 to 1811): (Ps 118:14) "In the world you have tribulation; but be John Paul II left the property is legitimate for
A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Jn 16:33.) Church during the guaranteeing the freedom
the good. It allows the person not only to perform Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates 26 years of his pon- and dignity of persons and
good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in tificate is undeni- for helping each of them to
person tends toward the good with all his sensory and the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery ably “The Catech- meet his basic needs and
spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of ism of the Catholic the needs of those in his
in concrete actions. what is honorable. The temperate person directs the Church”, published charge. It should allow for
Four virtues play a pivotal role and accordingly sensitive appetites toward what is good and main- in 1992. Headed a natural solidarity to de-
are called "cardinal"; all the others are grouped around tains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclina- by Cardinal Joseph velop between men.
them. They are: prudence, justice, fortitude, and tem- tion and strength, walking according to the desires of Ratzinger, the pro-
perance. "If anyone loves righteousness, [Wisdom's] your heart." (Sir 5:2; cf. 37:27-31) Temperance is often ject took 6 years to The right to private
labors are virtues; for she teaches temperance and praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base complete and in- property, acquired or re-
prudence, justice, and courage." (Wisdom 8:7.) These desires, but restrain your appetites." (Sir 18:30.) In the volved a team of 12 ceived in a just way, does
virtues are praised under other names in many pas- New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety." cardinals and bish- not do away with the ori-
sages of Scripture. We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this ops. The Catech- ginal gift of the earth to the
Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical rea- world." (Titus 2:12.) ism emcompasses whole of mankind. The uni-
son to discern our true good in every circumstance and St. Augustine wrote: “To live well is nothing other everything that a Catholic must believe and practice. versal destination of goods
remains primordial, even if
to choose the right means of achieving it; "the prudent than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul It follows the four traditional divisions found in The John Paul II signing the
man looks where he is going." "Keep sane and sober and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that Catechism of the Council of Trent: the profession of the promotion of the com- new Catechism of the Cath-
for your prayers." Prudence is "right reason in action," love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temper- faith (the Creed), the celebration of Christian mystery mon good requires respect olic Church, in the presence
writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle. It is not ance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is forti- (the Seven Sacraments), life in Christ (the 10 Com- for the right to private prop- of Cardinal Ratzinger
to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity tude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is mandments) and Christian prayer (The Lord's Prayer). erty and its exercise.
or dissimulation. It is called auriga virtutum (the char- careful in discerning things so as not to be surprised Here are excerpts from the Catechism on the 7th Respect for persons and their goods
ioteer of the virtues); it guides the other virtues by set- by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).” Commandment, "You shall not steal” (Ex 20:15; Deut
ting rule and measure. It is prudence that immediately It is not easy for man, wounded by sin, to main- 5:19; Mt 19:18). which refer to justice and the Social In economic matters, respect for human dignity
guides the judgment of conscience. The prudent man tain moral balance. Christ's gift of salvation offers us Doctrine of the Church. (Paragraphs 2401 to 2463). requires the practice of the virtue of temperance, so
determines and directs his conduct in accordance with the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of the While reading the following, please keep in mind that as to moderate attachment to this world's goods;
this judgment. With the help of this virtue we apply virtues. Everyone should always ask for this grace of the practice of the virtue of justice, to preserve our
moral principles to particular cases without error and light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate an economic or financial system can be considered neighbor's rights and render him what is his due;
overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the with the Holy Spirit, and follow his calls to love what is good or not, to the extent that it is in accordance with and the practice of solidarity, in accordance with the
evil to avoid. good and shun evil. these principles. golden rule and in keeping with the generosity of the
Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the The Seventh Commandment forbids unjustly Lord, who "though he was rich, yet for your sake...
constant and firm will to give their due to God and The Three Theological Virtues taking or keeping the goods of one's neighbor and became poor so that by his poverty, you might be-
neighbor. Justice toward God is called the "virtue of Following are a few words about the theological wronging him in any way with respect to his goods. come rich." (2 Cor 8:9.)
religion." Justice toward men disposes one to respect virtues, faith, hope and charity (1813 to 1829). It commands justice and charity in the care of Respect for the goods of others
the rights of each and to establish in human relation- The human virtues are rooted in the theological earthly goods and the fruits of men's labor. For the The Seventh Commandment forbids theft, that
ships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to virtues, which adapt man's faculties for participation sake of the common good, it requires respect for is, usurping another's property against the reason-
persons and to the common good. The just man, often in the divine nature: for the theological virtues relate the universal destination of goods and respect for able will of the owner. There is no theft if consent
mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, is distinguished directly to God. They dispose Christians to live in a the right to private property. Christian life strives can be presumed or if refusal is contrary to reason
by habitual right thinking and the uprightness of his relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have the One to order this world's goods to God and to fraternal
conduct toward his neighbor. "You shall not be par- and Triune God for their origin, motive, and object. charity. and the universal destination of goods. This is the
tial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteous- Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe The universal destination and case in obvious and urgent necessity when the only
ness shall you judge your neighbor." (Leviticus 19:15.) in God and believe all that he has said and revealed the private ownership of goods way to provide for immediate, essential needs (food,
"Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, shelter, clothing...) is to put at one's disposal and use
that you also have a Master in heaven." (Col 4:1.) because he is truth itself. Hope is the theological vir- In the beginning God entrusted the earth and the property of others. (Cf. Gaudium et Spes 69 § 1.)
Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firm- tue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and its resources to the common stewardship of man- Even if it does not contradict the provisions of
ness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the eternal life as our happiness. Charity is the theological kind to take care of them, master them by labor, and civil law, any form of unjustly taking and keeping the
good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations virtue by which we love God above all things for his enjoy their fruits. (Cf. Genesis 1:26-29.) The goods property of others is against the seventh command-
and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of creation are destined for the whole human race. ment: thus, deliberate retention of goods lent or of
of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of of God. v However, the earth is divided up among men to as- objects lost; business fraud; paying unjust wages;
death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes sure the security of their lives, endangered by pov- forcing up prices by taking advantage of the ignor- u

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