“A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good” (Catechism 1803). Catholic teaching names seven great virtues: the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance), which we grow in by practice and grace, and the three theological virtues (faith, hope and charity), which God pours into the soul at baptism.
Below is each virtue explained simply, with Scripture, everyday examples, the vices that oppose them, and the traditional acts of faith, hope and love.
The seven virtues at a glance
| Virtue | Type | In one sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Prudence | Cardinal | Knowing the right thing to do and the right way to do it |
| Justice | Cardinal | Giving God and neighbor what is due to them |
| Fortitude | Cardinal | Courage and perseverance in doing good |
| Temperance | Cardinal | Moderation of pleasures and self-control |
| Faith | Theological | Believing God and all that he has revealed |
| Hope | Theological | Trusting God’s promises of eternal life and the grace to reach it |
| Charity | Theological | Loving God above all and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God |
The four cardinal virtues
The word cardinal comes from the Latin cardo, “hinge”: all the other moral virtues hinge on these four (Catechism 1805). The Book of Wisdom already names them together:
And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues; for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.
Prudence
Prudence “disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it” (Catechism 1806). It is called the “charioteer of the virtues” because it guides the others. Example: thinking and praying before an important decision, and seeking good advice.
Justice
Justice is “the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor” (Catechism 1807). Toward God it is the virtue of religion; toward others it respects their rights and promotes the common good. Example: paying a fair wage, telling the truth, keeping promises, keeping Sunday holy.
Fortitude
Fortitude “ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good” (Catechism 1808). It conquers fear, even of death, and helps us resist temptation. Example: standing up for someone who is mocked; persevering in a hard duty; facing illness with faith.
Temperance
Temperance “moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods” (Catechism 1809). It keeps our desires within the limits of what is good. Example: moderation in food, drink, screens and spending; chastity according to one’s state of life.
The three theological virtues
The theological virtues have God himself as their origin, motive and object; they are given by God and they “inform and give life to all the moral virtues” (Catechism 1813). St. Paul ends his hymn to love:
And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.
Faith
“Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us” (Catechism 1814). The traditional Act of Faith:
O my God! I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.
Hope
“Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises” (Catechism 1817). The Act of Hope:
O my God! relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
Charity
“Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God” (Catechism 1822). St. Paul describes it:
Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up;
Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
The Act of Love:
O my God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
Virtues and the vices they overcome
The seven capital sins are traditionally opposed by seven virtues:
| Capital sin | Opposing virtue |
|---|---|
| Pride | Humility |
| Greed | Generosity |
| Lust | Chastity |
| Anger | Meekness (patience) |
| Gluttony | Temperance |
| Envy | Kindness |
| Sloth | Diligence |
See mortal and venial sin and the Ten Commandments for the examination of conscience.
How to grow in virtue
- Pray for it. Virtue is a gift of grace as well as the fruit of effort. Ask the Holy Spirit daily; see the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Practice small acts. Virtues grow by repetition, like muscles: one honest word, one act of patience, one small sacrifice.
- Receive the sacraments. Confession and the Eucharist heal and strengthen the soul. See how to go to confession.
- Choose one virtue a month and examine yourself on it each night.
- Imitate the saints. Each saint shows a virtue in a striking way: St. Thomas More’s fortitude, St. Francis’s poverty, St. Thérèse’s charity in little things.
Frequently asked questions
What are the seven virtues?
The four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance) and the three theological virtues (faith, hope, charity).
What is the greatest virtue?
Charity. “The greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:13), because God is love and charity will last forever.
What is the difference between the cardinal and theological virtues?
The cardinal (human) virtues are acquired by education and practice, and purified by grace; the theological virtues are infused by God and have God himself as their object.
Who named the four cardinal virtues?
The four were known to Plato and the Greek philosophers and appear in the Book of Wisdom (8:7). St. Ambrose, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas developed the Christian teaching about them.
More guides
- Acts of Faith, Hope and Love
- The Beatitudes
- Litany of Humility
- Prayer of St. Francis
- The gifts of the Holy Spirit
- The works of mercy
- The seven sacraments
- Mortal and venial sin
- The Ten Commandments
Texts and sources
- Acts of Faith, Hope and Love: A Catechism of Christian Doctrine No. 3 (Baltimore Catechism, ed. Kinkead, 1891), public domain (Project Gutenberg).
- Scripture: Wisdom 8:7; 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, 13, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1803, 1805–1809 and 1812–1822.