What is Virtue:
Virtue is the human quality of someone who is characterized by acting well and correctly. As such, it is a moral quality considered good. Likewise, it can refer to the effectiveness of certain things to produce certain effects.
The word virtue, as such, comes from Latin virtus, virtūtisand is derived from the Latin word virwhich means ‘male’, ‘man’, as it refers to the quality of value, associated with the masculine in ancient thought.
In this sense, virtue can designate the strength, vigor or courage that a person presents in certain situations: “Despite what has happened to her, Magdalena has demonstrated the virtue of always moving forward.” Hence we can also speak of virtue to refer to someone’s integrity of character.
Virtue, as such, can be verified in people with moral integrity, willing to conduct themselves in accordance with what is fair, what, understood in a moral sense, is correct.
Therefore, virtue is also recognizable in virtuous actions and in the right way of proceeding. Hence, in everyday language, the term virtue is also used to designate the qualities of a person who does good.
On the other hand, virtue can also be used to refer to the effectiveness of certain things to produce or cause positive effects: “My mother’s chicken broth has the virtue of raising a dead person”, “aloe vera has impressive healing virtues” .
In plural, the virtues are, according to Catholic doctrine, the angels bearers of grace and courage, whose fundamental mission is to fulfill divine operations on Earth. They are also popularly known as guardian angels, and are part of the fifth choir.
See also Value.
Moral virtue
A moral virtue is generally called the habit of doing well. As such, virtue is a positive quality, which refers to perfection in conduct or in the way of proceeding, and, in this sense, it is opposed to vice or defect.
In his philosophy, Aristotle considered that virtue was found in moderation, that is, in the balance between the extremes of defect and excess. Hence, the moral virtues are relative to the good and are subject to the guidelines of ethics.
See also Morality.
cardinal virtues
The cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. According to Plato, justice was the most important virtue in the system of cardinal virtues, since, according to him, by understanding it, man could access the other three. The cardinal virtues, as such, are considered the essential basis of man’s moral virtues.
See also Cardinal Virtues.
theological virtues
According to the Bible, the theological virtues are faith, hope and charity. In this sense, they are virtues that have God himself as their object. Hence it is the Creator himself who has infused them into the souls of men.
See also Theological virtues.