Tradicat

+ JMJ There's been a lot of chatter about the Gillette commercial and now a 'response' by Egard Watches. From my perspective, both adds miss the real point about what the Best Men Can Be! In the Gillette film we see a group of men watching a couple of boy fight ... while the men chant the mantra of 'Boys will be boys'.  We later see men intervening in various situations, such as when boys are bullying another boy. We also see boys watching popular entertainment in which immodesty is rampant etc. The Egard response says responds by seeing the good in men. So ... what have they missed? Well, following a Catholic moral perspective (ie Truth): A human male becomes a 'man' by practicing virtue.  Denying himself, picking up his cross and (even when surrounded by a corrupt environment) following Our Lord Jesus Christ. The episodes shown on the Gillette video are a mixed bag and all miss the point. The films that Gillette showed with boys and men ...

+ JMJ I think that in some cases, particular virtues  are emphasized in a particular era. I am beginning to wonder if, with the complete dissolution of society, a corresponding full court press of virtue is needed. We need to keep Faith, Hope and Charity as always! Then we need be wise and scientific to develop a correct understanding of the nature of the crisis and what is at state! We need art and prudence to direct our action! ... and the list goes on ... Study the virtues and practice them everyday, we can never be virtuous enough! Perhaps, just perhaps we may come out of this crisis holier than when we entered it! P^3

+ JMJ At this point, I've now covered the whole Catholic Encyclopedia article on Virtue.  I've already come across some other virtues that I'll add when I have time / inclination - such as Mercy. I will admit that some virtues are explained differently than I had anticipated.  This may be due to the language shift that occurs over a century.  (NB: I have edited some of the following text for brevity, but have run out of time - so the rest is a c&p from the original article.)

+ JMJ We have now reached the pinnacle of the virtues - the Theological Virtues. Without the theological virtues, particularly Faith, salvation is impossible.

+ JMJ This is not a reference to intestinal fortitude that is required to read Cardinal Kasper et al's writings. It is a reference to the virtue by which one endures the hardships that God sends us in life and specifically those that accompany this crisis of the Church. These could include the separation from loved ones over Catholic principles (divorce, communion in the hand, priestesses, New Mass, Four V2 Things ), or just trying to live as a Catholic in a Godless world (note this is worse than living in a pagan world ...)

+ JMJ We last saw that Justice regulates our relations with others, God and our fellow-men (or women as the case may be).  Temperance is focused on regulating our 'relations' with our passions that have been in rebellion since the fall. The following diagram outlines the virtue of temperance in its subordinates and annexed virtues following the Catholic Encyclopedia model.

+ JMJ Justice is a concept that I believe many think of in terms of legal systems, but are ignorant of Justice as a moral virtue.  The overarching concept is in every interaction to give everyone (God and man) what they deserve, be it respect, obedience to our duties, being generous.

+ JMJ In this article I will summarize the Intellectual Virtues and provide my thoughts on how a Catholic should apply them in this age. Intellectual virtues Intellectual virtue may be defined as a habit perfecting the intellect to elicit with readiness acts that are good in reference to their proper object, namely, truth. As the intellect is called speculative or practical according as it confines itself to the sole contemplation of truth or considers truth in reference to action, the intellectual virtues may be classified according to this twofold function of the mental faculty.

+ JMJ How does one lead a virtuous life in a world bereft of virtue? This is a question that all Catholics worthy (or unworthy) of the name should be asking themselves. I just read the following in the Imitation of Christ: The life of a good religious man ought to be eminent in all virtues, that he may be such interiorly as he appears to men in the exterior. And with good reason ought he to be much more in his interior that he exteriorly appear; because he who beholds us is God, of whom we ought exceedingly to stand in awe, wherever we are, and like angels walk pure in His sight. Imitation of Christ Book 1, Chapter 19

+ JMJ This post by Rorate is perfectly timed as I'm putting together a series of posts on the virtues. This post focuses on a virtue lacking in the 'West': Modesty in dress. Source: Rorate-Caeli Women's Fashions P^3