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Welcome to Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Fortitude and Temperance.

 

SUBJECT OVERVIEW

 

TEACHER: Fr Paul Grant

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES:

The study of the cardinal virtues of prudence, fortitude and temperance offers a framework for morality. We all naturally desire good, but we need to discover where the good lies, and use our capacities to attain it. The cardinal virtues are strengths that help us do this, ordering our acts and choices towards the good in way that befits our dignity and vocation, and they help us overcome the temptations and difficulties we experience along the way. We will review the role of the emotions, then study the virtue of prudence, which influences all our choices. We will focus more deeply on fortitude and temperance, which are essential for living well and for our Christian witness in the world. Temperance regards the use of goods and self-mastery, and affects us both materially and spiritually. The virtue of chastity is part of temperance, and we will examine this in more detail from both anthropological and theological perspectives.

 

PROGRAM 

  1. INTRODUCTION
  • The attainment of the good and the human psyche.
  • Christian morals as morals rooted in the person. 
  1. THE VIRTUE OF PRUDENCE
  • The theological concept of the virtue of prudence.
  • Theological analysis of the virtue of prudence.
  • Sins against prudence. 
  • Developing prudence.
  1. THE VIRTUE OF FORTITUDE
  • The theological concept of the virtue of fortitude. 
  • Theological analysis of the virtue of fortitude. 
  • Proper acts of the virtue of fortitude. 
  • Sins against the virtue of fortitude.
  • Virtues related to fortitude.
  1. THE VIRTUE OF TEMPERANCE
  • The theological concept of the virtue of temperance. 
  • Theological analysis of the virtue of temperance. 
  • Temperance, bodiliness and sensibility.
  • Temperance and spiritual goods. 
  1. THE VIRTUE OF CHASTITY
  • The Human Person and sexuality.
  • The virtue of chastity.
  • Education in the virtue of chastity.
  • Sins against chastity.

A detailed version of the program is available here |  VIEW

  

ASSESSMENT

TBA

Study questions to help you work through the course and prepare for the assessment are here. Study Guide  VIEW    Detailed Study Guide VIEW

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Readings

Course Notes  VIEW

Who’s Who in the Notes  VIEW

Rodríguez Luño, A., and Colom, E., Chosen in Christ to Be Saints: Fundamental Moral Theology, 2014. |  VIEW

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn. 355-384, 1803-1811, 2331-2400, 2514-2557. |  VIEW

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics, (Persona Humana), 29.12.1975. |  VIEW

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, On The Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (Homosexualitatis Problema), 1.10.1986. |  VIEW

Congregation For the Doctrine of the Faith, Some Considerations Concerning the Response to Legislative Proposals On the Non-Discrimination of Homosexual Persons, 4.7.1992. |  VIEW

Congregation For the Doctrine of The Faith, Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, 3.3.2003. |  VIEW

Congregation For Catholic Education, Educational Guidance in Human Love: Outlines For Sex Education,  1.11.1983. |  VIEW

Escrivá, Josemaria, Homilies ‘Freedom, A Gift From God’, ‘Human Virtues’, and ‘For They Shall See God’, in Friends of God. |  VIEW

John Paul II, John Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them. A Theology of the Body. Boston: Pauline Press, 2006.

Pontifical Council for the Family, The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality: Guidelines for Education Within the Family, 8.10.1995. |  VIEW

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II-II, qq. 47-56, 123-40, 141-170. |  VIEW