Benevolence is a virtue.
A virtue is a positive quality that allows producing certain effects. There are different uses of the term - from the Latin virtus - linked to strength , courage , the power to act, the effectiveness of a thing or integrity of mind.
In short, virtue is called a stable characteristic of the person, whether natural or acquired. There are intellectual virtues (associated with intelligence) and moral virtues (related to good).
Types of virtue
Intellectual virtue is formed by the capacity for learning, dialogue and reflection in the search for true knowledge; Within its limits, it is possible to distinguish between theoretical reason and practical reason .
Moral virtue , on the other hand, is moral action or behavior. It is the habit that is considered good and in accordance with ethics . Justice (giving one's neighbor what is due), fortitude (ability to resist temptations), prudence (acting according to right judgment) and temperance (moderating the attraction of pleasures) are the cardinal virtues.
Moral virtues contribute to peace and the common good.
The concept in colloquial language and religion
In everyday language, virtue is used to refer to the qualities of any person : "Being patient is one of my virtues," "Franco Fagioli has many virtues as a singer, among which are his agility and his acting skills."
Theological, supernatural or infused virtues , on the other hand, are those that, according to Christian doctrine, God grants to man so that he can act as his Son.
After classifying the seven deadly sins , the Church identified seven virtues that would help believers stay away from evil. Led by Pope Gregory the Great , the main objective of the initiative was to encourage the people to comply with the commands of the Bible, through various sermons that described the second visit of Jesus Christ to Earth as well as the infernal punishments that awaited them. unfaithful
Based on a deep knowledge of the sacred writings, this peapa collaborated with the writing and organization of the seven virtues, which are detailed below:
- Faith : focuses on believing in matters related to God, which cannot be seen. It opposes the sin of pride , which consists of trusting in one's own abilities rather than in divine ones. It is symbolized by a woman holding a cross, a chalice or both, while Saint Peter rests at her feet.
- Hope : It is about trusting that good will be victorious over evil and that control of the future will be in the hands of a merciful God. Its corresponding sin is envy , the desire to possess someone else's property based on a lack of hope in one's own future. It is symbolized by a winged woman with her hands pointing to the sky.
- Charity : It consists of caring about your neighbor and always being willing to provide support. On the contrary, anger seeks the pain of others. It is symbolized by a woman surrounded by children and breastfeeding one of them, and with Saint John the Evangelist at her feet; Likewise, you can have a burning heart in your hands.
- Fortitude : it is synonymous with determining to fight until the end. It is opposed to the sin of sloth . Its symbol is a woman who can have a sword, a shield or a stick, or be next to a column (referring to the collapse of the Philistine temple caused by Samson , who stands at its feet).
- Justice : is achieved by treating people fairly , unlike lust , which results in valuing people and things disproportionately. It is symbolized by a woman with a sword and a scale in her hands, and the emperor Trajan at her feet.
- Prudence : it is about being moderate and taking care of the economy. It is opposed to gluttony , which leads people to indulge their desires without considering the consequences. Its symbol is a two-headed woman, who holds a snake and a mirror and has Solon at her feet.
- Temperance : identifying the things truly essential for life , as opposed to avarice , which consists of the excessive desire for possessions. It is symbolized by a woman holding two vessels or a sword, while Scipio Africanus perches at her feet.
Acting with responsibility and respect is a virtue.
Examples of virtue
As we have already indicated, virtues are usually linked to morality . An example of virtue is honesty : if a restaurant customer notifies the waiter that there is an error in their bill and that they were going to charge them less, they act in accordance with this virtue.
Compassion is another example of virtue. A woman who sees an injured bird on the street and picks it up to heal and care for it in her home until it can take care of itself and live in freedom again demonstrates that she possesses this virtue.
If someone donates 30% of their salary every month, this decision reflects their generosity and altruism . Other examples of virtues are loyalty , gratitude , sincerity , and tolerance .