Editing Seven virtues

{{short description|Seven virtues in Christian tradition}}
{{Catholic philosophy}}
In [[Christianity|Christian]] history, the '''seven heavenly virtues''' combine the four [[cardinal virtues]] of [[prudence]], [[Justice (virtue)|justice]], [[Temperance (virtue)|temperance]], and [[courage|fortitude]] with the three [[theological virtues]] of [[Faith in Christianity|faith]], [[Hope (virtue)|hope]], and [[Charity (virtue)|charity]].

The '''seven capital virtues''', also known as '''seven lively virtues''', contrary or remedial virtues, are those opposite to the [[seven deadly sins]]. They are often enumerated as [[chastity]], [[temperance (virtue)|temperance]], [[Charity (practice)|charity]], [[diligence]], [[kindness]], [[patience]], and [[humility]].

==Seven heavenly virtues==
===Cardinal virtues===
{{Main|Cardinal virtues}}

The term "cardinal virtues" ({{lang|la|virtutes cardinales}}) was first used by the 4th-century theologian [[Ambrose]],<ref name=Bejczy>{{cite book|last1=Bejczy |first1=István P. |title=The Cardinal Virtues in the Middle Ages |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VgPRu0CJ_sQC |date=2011 |publisher=Brill |location=Boston |isbn=978-9004210141|page=12}}</ref> who defined the four virtues as "temperance, justice, prudence, and fortitude".<ref>{{Cite book |editor-last=Just |editor-first=Arthur A. |title=Luke |series=Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gh6sFDUfq8cC&pg=PA104 |date=2003 |publisher=InterVarsity Press |isbn=978-0-8308-1488-6 |page=104}}</ref> These were also named as cardinal virtues by [[Augustine of Hippo]], and were subsequently adopted by the [[Catholic Church]]. They are described as "human virtues" in the Catholic ''[[Catechism of the Catholic Church|Catechism]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a7.htm |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church 3.1.1.7 |publisher=St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church|edition=2nd}}</ref>

Prior to Ambrose, these four qualities were identified by the Greek philosopher [[Plato]] as the necessary character traits of a good man, and were discussed by other ancient authors such as [[Cicero]]. They can also be found in the Old Testament [[Book of Wisdom]], which states that wisdom "teaches moderation and prudence, righteousness and fortitude, and nothing in life is more useful than these."<ref>{{Bibleverse|Wisdom of Solomon|8:7}}</ref>

===Theological virtues===
{{Main|Theological virtues}}

The theological virtues are those named by [[Paul the Apostle|St. Paul]] in [[1 Corinthians 13]]: "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|13:13}}</ref> The third virtue is also commonly referred to as "charity", as this is how the influential [[King James Bible]] translated the Greek word {{transliteration|grc|[[agape]]}}.

The traditional understanding of the difference between cardinal and theological virtues is that the latter are not fully accessible to humans in their natural state without assistance from God.<ref name=Waldron>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Virtue |encyclopedia=Catholic Encyclopedia |publisher=Robert Appleton Company |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15472a.htm|last=Waldron|first=Martin Augustine |year=1912}}</ref> [[Thomas Aquinas]] believed that while the cardinal virtues could be formed through habitual practice, the theological virtues could only be practised by divine grace.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marbaniang |first1=Domenic |title=Theology and Ethics: An Introduction |journal=Revive |date=May 2019 |volume=12 |issue=5 |page=6}}</ref>

==Seven capital virtues==
The seven capital virtues or seven lively virtues (also known as the contrary or remedial virtues){{sfn|Bejczy|2011|page=225}} are those thought to stand in opposition to the [[seven capital vices]] (or deadly sins).

[[Prudentius]], writing in the 5th century, was the first author to allegorically represent Christian morality as a struggle between seven sins and seven virtues. His poem ''[[Psychomachia]]'' depicts a battle between female personifications of virtues and vices, with each virtue confronting and defeating a particular vice.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wieland |first=Gernot |date=1986 |title=Aldhelm's 'De Octo Vitiis Princip Alibus' and Prudentius' 'Psychomachia' |jstor=43628952 |journal=Medium Aevum |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=85–86 |doi=10.2307/43628952}}</ref> However, Prudentius did not base his allegory on the cardinal and theological virtues, nor did he use the traditional list of capital vices. The combatants in the ''Psychomachia'' are as follows:
{| class="sortable wikitable"
! [[Virtue]]
! [[Latin]]
! [[Sin]]
! Latin
|-
| [[Chastity]]
| {{lang|la|Pudicitia}}
| [[Lust]]
| {{lang|la|Sodomita Libido}}
|-
| [[Faith]]
| {{lang|la|Fides}}
| [[Idolatry]]<ref>{{cite book|first=S.|last=Young|chapter=From the desert to the university: Parisian theologians and the seven deadly sins|title=Scholarly Community at the Early University of Paris: Theologians, Education and Society|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=168–207}}</ref>
| {{lang|la|Veterum Cultura Deorum}}
|-
| [[Good Works]]
| {{lang|la|Operatio}}
| [[Avarice]]
| {{lang|la|Avaritia}}
|-
| [[Concord (virtue)|Concord]]
| {{lang|la|Concordia}}
| [[Discord (sin)|Discord]]
| {{lang|la|Discordia}}
|-
| [[Sobriety]]
| {{lang|la|Sobrietas}}
| Indulgence
| {{lang|la|Luxuria}}
|-
| [[Patience]]
| {{lang|la|Patientia}}
| [[Wrath]]
| {{lang|la|Ira}}
|-
| [[Humility]]
| {{lang|la|Mens Humilis}}
| [[Hubris|Pride]]
| {{lang|la|Superbia}}
|}

The success of this work popularised the concept of capital virtues among medieval authors. In AD&nbsp;590, the seven capital vices were revised by [[Pope Gregory I]], which led to the creation of new lists of corresponding capital virtues. In modern times, the capital virtues are commonly identified as the following:<ref>{{cite book |last=Siker |first=Jeffrey S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1yFTCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA46 |title=Jesus, Sin, and Perfection in Early Christianity |date=2015 |isbn=978-1-107-10541-6 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=46}}</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable"
! [[Virtue]]
! [[Latin]]
! [[Sin]]
! Latin
|-
| [[Chastity]]
| {{lang|la|Castitas}} 
| [[Lust]]
| {{lang|la|Luxuria}}
|-
| [[Temperance (virtue)|Temperance]]
| {{lang|la|Temperantia}}
| [[Gluttony]]
| {{lang|la|Gula}}
|-
| [[Charity (Christian virtue)|Charity]]
| {{lang|la|Caritas}}
| [[Greed]]
| {{lang|la|Avaritia}}
|-
| [[Diligence]]
| {{lang|la|Diligentia}}
| [[Sloth (deadly sin)|Sloth]]
| {{lang|la|Acedia}}
|-
| [[Kindness]]
| {{lang|la|Humanitas}}
| [[Envy]]
| {{lang|la|Invidia}}
|-
| [[Patience]]
| {{lang|la|Patientia}}
| [[Anger|Wrath]]
| {{lang|la|Ira}}
|-
| [[Humility]]
| {{lang|la|Humilitas}}
| [[Pride]]
| {{lang|la|Superbia}}
|}

Although some medieval authors attempted to contrast the capital vices with the heavenly virtues, such efforts were rare.{{sfn|Bejczy|2011|pages=228–229}} According to historian István P. Bejczy, "the capital vices are more often contrasted with the remedial or contrary virtues in medieval moral literature than with the principal virtues, while the principal virtues are frequently accompanied by a set of mirroring vices rather than by the seven deadly sins".{{sfn|Bejczy|2011|page=233}}

==See also==
* {{annotated link|[[Holy obedience]]}}
* [[Virtue ethics#Lists of virtues|Aristotle's list of virtues]]
* [[Cardinal and Theological Virtues (Raphael)|Cardinal and Theological Virtues]], painting by [[Raphael]]

==References==
{{commons category|The Seven Virtues}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Christian virtue ethics|state=expanded}}
{{Seven Deadly Sins}}
{{Virtues}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seven Virtues}}
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