Oh man, this is tough. I like to think of myself as virtuous. But, there are a few grey areas. Maybe some black areas show up under intense scrutiny. My daughter and I were looking up 'virtue' for the class she is teaching a sixth grade about Medieval Games. It was interesting to see that almost every religion has come to pretty much the same description of virtues for thousands of years. There must be something in us that recognizes what is right and wrong. These virtues described by Dante (who walked the Camino, I have heard) are in language which sounds a bit archaic. But the ideas are pretty clear. (list follows)
I am going to rank myself in sins and virtues. Oh man...
1. I don't think of myself as very Lusty. Chastity is a bit above my reach.
2. Gluttony is a bit of a problem. I am pretty capable over over-indulgence on a lot of fronts. Chocolate, cigarettes, books are a few areas that come to mind. Self-restraint. I can manage sometimes, but it is most certainly working against my natural inclinations.
3. Greed is not my issue. I am good at Giving.
4. I can be very Slothful. I can be very Diligent. I need some kind of fire under me (a cause, a passion, a need) to crank up my zeal.
5. I am working on Forgiveness all the time. I have become much better at not saying mean things and am working on not thinking them. (this may not pan out in this lifetime)
6. I don't have the Envy gene. Envy has never been much of a problem for me. Kindness, I have a lot of, but I think it needs to go a lot deeper. I am not always kind.
7. If Humility is the highest virtue and Vanity the deadliest sin, I am in real trouble. I have this thing, let's call it 'ego'. It makes for a lot of trouble in my quest for sainthood. Enough said.
This is a quick survey of my holiness and lack thereof. It could be depressing to delve too far into these matters. But, I am grateful for the chance to evaluate myself. Give yourself a report card.
"The Roman Catholic church recognized the seven capital virtues as opposites to the Seven Capital Sins or the Seven Deadly Sins. According to Dante's The Divine Comedy the sins have an order of greatness, and the virtues a respective order of greatness as well. This order is shown below from the lowest to the highest."
| Sin | Virtue |
|---|---|
| Lust (excessive sexual appetites) | Chastity (purity) |
| Gluttony (over-indulgence) | Temperance (self-restraint) |
| Greed (avarice) | Charity (giving) |
| Sloth (laziness/idleness) | Diligence (zeal/integrity/Labor) |
| Wrath (anger) | Forgiveness (composure) |
| Envy (jealousy) | Kindness (admiration) |
| Pride (vanity) | Humility (humbleness) |
Great to read, of course I know all of this about you:)
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