Theological and Moral Virtues

Living by Grace: The Virtues That Form the Christian Life

Christian moral life is not merely about following rules—it is about becoming the kind of person who loves what is good and lives in harmony with God. At the heart of this transformation are the virtues: stable dispositions of the soul that incline us to do what is right and pleasing to God. The Church recognizes two main categories of virtue: theological virtues and moral virtues.

The theological virtues—faith, hope, and love—are given directly by God through grace. They orient us toward God Himself and are necessary for salvation. The moral virtues—prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance—are cultivated through human effort, good habits, and are elevated by grace. Together, these virtues form the soul in holiness and enable us to live fully as children of God.

The Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love: Gifts of Divine Origin

Faith

Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and in all that He has revealed, trusting in His truth and the authority of His Church. It is more than intellectual agreement—it is a deep entrusting of our lives to God. Faith seeks to know, love, and obey God’s will.

Yet, as St. James reminds us, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). For faith to be alive, it must be united with hope and love. It must bear fruit in action. A living faith expresses itself through charity and leads us into ever-deepening communion with Christ[^1].

Hope

Hope is the virtue that enables us to trust in God’s promises and to long for the kingdom of heaven and eternal life. It protects us from discouragement and sustains us in suffering. Hope is not naïve optimism—it is grounded in the faithfulness of God and the power of the Holy Spirit working within us.

Hope is expressed in prayer, especially in the Our Father, where we entrust ourselves daily to God’s providence. In hope, we live with joyful confidence in the future God has prepared for those who love Him[^2].

Love (Charity)

Love, or charity, is the greatest of the theological virtues. It is the virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and love our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Jesus called love the greatest commandment and the fulfillment of the law: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Love transforms all other virtues. Without love, faith becomes empty, and hope loses its strength. As St. Paul writes, “The greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Love is the measure of holiness and the virtue that endures beyond this life into eternity[^3].

The Moral Virtues

Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance: Virtues for Right Living

Unlike theological virtues, moral virtues are developed through human practice and effort, though they are also elevated by grace. They shape our character, guide our actions, and make us capable of consistently choosing what is good. The four cardinal virtues are called such because all other human virtues hinge upon them (from the Latin cardo, meaning “hinge”).

Prudence

Prudence is the virtue that enables us to discern the true good in every situation and to choose the right means to achieve it. It is sometimes called “right reason in action.” Prudence governs our decisions and gives direction to all other moral virtues.

A prudent person seeks counsel, reflects before acting, and makes choices informed by both reason and faith. Without prudence, the other virtues may be misused or misdirected[^4].

Justice

Justice is the virtue that gives to each person what is due to them. It involves fairness, honesty, and respect for the rights of others. Justice governs our relationships with others and ensures that we act in accordance with truth and equity.

Justice also includes our duty to God. The virtue of religion, which belongs under justice, directs us to give God the worship and reverence He deserves[^5].

Fortitude

Fortitude, often called courage, enables us to remain firm in the pursuit of good, especially in the face of difficulty or danger. It gives us the strength to endure trials, resist temptations, and overcome fear.

Christian fortitude is seen in the martyrs who stood firm in faith despite persecution. It is also seen in the quiet perseverance of those who remain faithful in the midst of daily struggles. Fortitude enables us to carry our crosses with trust in God[^6].

Temperance

Temperance moderates our desires and appetites, especially for pleasures like food, drink, comfort, and sexuality. It helps us maintain balance, self-control, and dignity.

In a culture of excess and instant gratification, temperance is a countercultural virtue. It teaches us to enjoy God’s gifts rightly, without being dominated by them. Temperance is not about denial for its own sake, but about freedom—the freedom to choose the good without being ruled by passion[^7].

The Interplay of Grace and Virtue

The moral virtues prepare the soul for grace, forming the foundation of character and self-mastery. The theological virtues elevate human action by uniting it to divine life. In this way, Christian virtue is both a human achievement and a divine gift.

The virtues do not merely guide behavior—they transform the person. Through faith, hope, love, and the cardinal virtues, we are gradually conformed to the image of Christ. This is the heart of Christian morality: not simply doing what is right, but becoming who God created us to be.

Footnotes

[^1]: Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), §1814–1816.
[^2]: CCC §1817–1821.
[^3]: 1 Corinthians 13:13; CCC §1822–1829.
[^4]: CCC §1806.
[^5]: CCC §1807.
[^6]: CCC §1808.
[^7]: CCC §1809.