The Virtues - What Are They ?

A virtue is a good habit that enables us to act according to right reason, enlightened by faith.  It is a firm disposition to act according to God’s will and disregard the contrary impulses of our own will. The Catholic Church teaches that there are fourteen basic moral virtues, of three types:

The three theological virtues are supernatural.
The four cardinal virtues are natural.
The seven capital virtues are the roots from which all other virtues flow.
Additional moral virtues are included among the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
There are also five intellectual virtues.

Sanctifying grace infuses in us the theological (Greek: theos, to God) virtues of faith, hope and charity. They enter our soul as permanent habits or dispositions. They are not acquired by repetition of an act; God pours them directly into our soul. These virtues adapt our human faculties for participation in the divine nature.


They are supernatural virtues because they cannot be achieved through human effort, but can come only from God.  The theological virtues are often paired with the cardinal virtues.

There are four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude.

They are called cardinal (Latin: cardo, hinge) virtues because they are hinges on which all moral virtues depend. These are also called moral (Latin: mores, fixed values) because they govern our actions, order our passions, and guide our conduct according to faith and reason.

The cardinal or moral virtues are natural, because they can be achieved through human effort, aided by grace.

Bóthar - Helping People to Help Themselves...

Bothar is a fantastic charity because it helps those in poorer circumstances to become self sufficient especially those in Africa and third world countries. By sending cows, goats, camels, pigs, trees and providing education and veterinary back up, Bóthar helps tackle poverty and support sustainable development.

From their website...www.bothar.ie/ 
Bóthar had its origins in 1989 in the city of Limerick on the Shannon Estuary in Ireland. It began as an enterprise with the aim of sending as many dairy cows to Africa as possible in the year 1991, in conjunction with the civic celebrations to mark the tercentenary of the signing of the Treaty of Limerick, an important milestone in Irish history. However, as the months passed and as more people were informed about the project, a great enthusiasm began to surround the organising committee. It became apparent that this endeavour had far more potential than a local and temporary programme. It was decided to invite prominent national figures to form a Board of Directors of a new Third World Development Agency, which would specialise in the use of livestock in developing countries.

For instance...Bóthar’s dairy cows have become life saving heroes in many parts of the world. Irish dairy cows will produce up to 20 times as much nutritious milk every day as the average local cow in Uganda, Malawi, and Cameroon.
Milk & cheese from the living gift of a cow instantly improves the diet of an impoverished family and also produces enough milk for them to sell and earn an income. Suddenly mothers and fathers are in a position to purchase food and medicine for their families. Over time they can even send their children to school. 
Check out their great website for more information...http://www.bothar.ie/