Given that excellence is achieved through the life of virtue, it is our intention to discuss virtue which gives the human person the inclination and power to do what is good. (art. 5)
As humans, we desire a good society, we desire good friends, good family members, good relatives at all levels, and good companions. It is virtuous life that makes humans good. Without the life of virtue, we can neither have good families nor a good society. Consequently, the dream of a good Church will be an illusion without the life of virtue. (art. 6)
In this pastoral letter, we shall explain the meaning of the term virtue. It is a term with a very long history which was made popular many years before Christ especially by the ancient Greek philosophers. Christianity has elevated virtuous life or Christian perfection as conformity to the image of Christ and the new nature created after the likeness of God. We shall reflect on the four cardinal virtues, namely: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance as fundamental natural attitudes that define a true human being. Together with these four cardinal virtues, we shall consider the three supernatural virtues; Faith, Hope and Charity, which give us the perfect image of a person redeemed and sanctified by Jesus Christ. These seven virtues guarantee the fullness of our humanity in this world and lead us to live in eternity with God in the beatific vision. (art 7)
We shall also explain the meaning of Capital Sins, why they are called deadly or capital sins and the virtues that conquer them. While virtues are excellent characters, good habits or dispositions which help us live well as good human beings, vices or in Christian terminology, sins are bad habits which undermine our moral goodness. They are disruptive and destructive to our characters leading the individual to moral failure. Vices are not mere mistakes or occasional failures but persistent dispositions that characterize the moral identity of a person. The following vices are called Capital Sins; Pride, Greed, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, Anger, and Sloth.
These are fertile sources of many sins. We shall also find out practical ways on how to cultivate their virtuous alternatives. (art. 9)
In simple terms, we can define virtue as a good habit which gives the human person both the inclination and the power to always do what is morally good. Virtue perfects the whole person and makes him good.(art. 19)
We can define sin as a morally bad action. Any action which disregards the obligations of the moral law and the commands of one’s conscience is sin. Sin can also be described as disobedience against God’s will and an offense against him. (art. 20)
Virtues are good habits while vices are bad habits. Christian moral tradition recognizes certain vices as capital or deadly sins. They are called “capital” not because they are always necessarily grave, but because they easily become sources of many other sins. They are also called deadly not because they cause physical death but because they are often the first steps in the progress to grave sins. (art. 45)
This pastoral letter in conclusion insists that though the seven Capital Sins are silent killers of our souls and destiny, they do not have the final word. Through reliance on the grace of God, prayer, cultivation and practice of virtues, we can transform our human weakness into strength and be on the way to holiness and sainthood. By actively practicing the virtues, life becomes a joyful participation in God’s goodness. (art. 75)