It may have been several years since catechism class, or maybe it’s a new topic all together. The virtues are something that we’ve heard of but may not know how impactful it is to our faith life. A virtue, as defined in the Catechism, is a “habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of herself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all her sensory and spiritual powers; she pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions.”
In today’s study, Peter writes to us urging us to make every effort supplement our faith with virtue. But what does this look like? Being virtuous is to make all effort to do good and be the best version of our self. Sometimes in life we struggle, we sin, we doubt – all part of our humanity. But we are called to grow into the best version of our self – the version that God sees in us. Have you ever had someone in your life, maybe a boyfriend, husband, or child, or niece, and wished for them the best things in life? Wished that they would grow into themselves, confident with who they are, a helpful loving person to others around them, and who would continue to be the best they can be? This is what God wants for us & this is what it is to be virtuous. To be virtuous is not to be perfect. But it is to strive to be perfect. Moreover, it’s to strive to be the perfect version of ourselves. No one else is like you. Why would we want to be someone else when we are supposed to be ourselves? Who is going to be the best version of you except you?
So how do we grow to be the best version of our self? Peter continues stating that we do this through continued learning, self control, perseverance, devotion, affection (care for others) and charity. Over the next month we are going to be learning about how to supplement our faith with virtue, one in particular: we will be focusing on Charity. This bible study is called “Biblical Charity”. The month of October in the Catholic church is commonly nick named “Dignity of Life” month, “Respect Life” month, and more loosely, the Month of Charity. Many parishes will be hosting prayer events, vigils, volunteer hours at city kitchens & half way houses. Dive in with us as we learn in the Scriptures about Charity. It’s going to be a GREAT month!
