Virtues (i am speaking as a Catholic Christian) are special "graces" from our creation entity ("God") that allow mankind to accomplish good deeds.
The Church (Christian community) distinguishes two categories of "virtue": moral and theological.
"Moral" virtues help us live within morality established or recorded in the Gospel (New Testament; words of Jesus Christ). These consist of:
- Prudence (grace to make judgments)
- Justice
- Temperance
- Fortitude
- Humility
- Patience
- Obedience to the Gospel
- Chastity
- Piety
- Veracity
Theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity. These virtues are also infused into mankind (another element that distinguishes mankind from animals) making it possible to exhibit the other virtues.
A good person, a good Christian, will make perennial efforts to exhibit "virtue". None of us is perfect, we are all sinners, the challenge is to use our God-given willpower to exhibit virtue. Virtues are an example of how Christianity provided the basis of good moral behavior among mankind, antithetical to some of the selfish and immoral behavior encouraged through atheist or pagan philosophies and attitudes. Make an attempt to exhibit virtues, it will make your community and the world a better place.
