1. The Virtue of Prudence and Justice
Notre Dame Seminary
T2 Formation Conference

2. I. The Virtue of Prudence
Prudence is infused into the practical intellect for right concrete action in view of supernatural end
it is a fulcrum for all other moral virtues
it points out the just mean for all moral actions
without prudence no virtue can become perfect

3. Importance
Helps one to avoid sin
Judges what should be done to grow in sanctification
Assists in the apostolate

4. Vices opposed
Imprudence
precipitation
acting without attention to proper steps and proper deliberation
inconsideration
a spurning of making a judgment or no attention to it
inconstancy
the abandoning of a good judgment because of some difficulty

5. Negligence
A failure to even command the action
False prudence
carnal prudence
craftiness
guile
fraud
lack of confidence in divine providence

6. Method of Progress
Beginners – the virtue of prudence is often lacking in the young due to a lack of experience and the predominance of emotions over reason
avoid sins that are opposed to prudence mentioned above
Practice referring all actions to the ultimate end – ask the question: “Quid hoc ad aeternitatem?”

7. Advanced Souls
seek God’s glory
practice choosing the greater good
intensify practice of self-denial and mortification

8. II. The Parts of Prudence
Integral Parts (elements which are required for the perfection of a given virtue)
Memory of the past – one must learn from experience
Understanding of the present – to judge the morality and/or fittingness of a given act in the present
Docility – willingness for the inexperienced to accept the counsel and advice of the experienced

9. Sagacity – ability to act rightly in an urgent situation where no time is available
Reasoning power – ability to give required deliberation and consideration when time affords opportunity
Foresight – need to judge means in view of end
Circumspection – take into account special circumstances surrounding a given act
Precaution – consideration of possible obstacles exterior or interior to oneself due to weakness, etc.

10. Subjective Parts (species or divisions of the virtue)
personal prudence – governance of self
social prudence – governance of others
Potential Parts (annexed or related virtues)
Good counsel – advises concerning apt means for action
Common sense – judge according to common laws
Perspicacity – ability to apply higher principles in the absence of a law

11. III. The Gift of Counsel
Definition
Gift that perfects the operation of the virtue of prudence, operating under the impulse of the Holy Spirit.
The gift often commands actions that could never be explained by human reason, even by reason with light of faith
The gift of Counsel is especially needed when there is need for an immediate judgment and no time for deliberation

12. Effects
Preserves one from the dangers of a false conscience
Provides solutions to difficult and unexpected situations
Inspires superiors with the most apt means in the governance of others
Increases one’s docility to legitimate superiors

13. Opposed Vices
precipitation – the acting on one’s own judgment instead of waiting on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
tenacity – attachment to one’s own judgment
procrastination – not acting when the Holy Spirit is prompting and thus losing the grace

14. Means of Growth
Cultivate a profound humility
this places one dependent upon the Holy Spirit
avoid haste in proceeding with a decision
listen in silence to the voice of God
have docility to ecclesiastical superiors through whom God speaks

15. IV. The Virtue of Justice
Justice Itself
Definition
Supernatural habit which inclines the will constantly and perpetually to render to each one what is due in the strict sense
it perfects the will
it always involves reference to another, strict obligation, and exact adequation
it prepares the way for peace, the tranquility of order

16. Parts of Justice Integral Parts
refraining from doing evil to one’s neighbor
doing the required good to one’s neighbor

17. subjective parts
legal justice (inclines one to render to society it’s due in view of the common good of that society)
Distributive justice (inclines one in charge to bestow things in their proper proportion according to dignity, need, etc.)
commutative justice (inclines one to render to another individual what is his due)

18. potential parts
religion – cult due to God
piety – duties towards one’s parents
observance,
gratitude – benefits received dulia, obedience – obligations towards a superior

19. vindication – just punishment
truth, affability, liberality – with social relations
equity – ability to depart from the letter of the law in order to preserve the law’s spirit

20. Means of Progressing in Justice
Negative Means
avoid all injustices, however slight
avoid unnecessary debts and pay existing debts promptly
treat another’s possessions as one’s own
protect and defend the good name of others
avoid any kind of preference of persons or human respect

21. Positive Means
rendering our neighbor his due – commutative justice
judge in favor of society or organization, etc. as a whole in making decisions
be solicitous to fulfill one’s obligations to the law of society

22. V. The Virtue of Religion
Definition
the virtue which inclines man to give to God what is due Him as first principle
it is the most excellent of the virtues derived from justice
its material object is the internal and external acts of worship

23. by definition it must be rendered to God and not to His creatures
Acts of Religion
Internal
devotion – promptness of will to give itself over to the service of God
by definition it must be rendered to God and not to His creatures
devotion to saints is really a veneration of God in them
the virtue of devotion resides in the will
prayer – resides in the intellect predominantly

24. External adoration sacrifice offerings vows oaths adjuration
invocation of name of God

25. Sins opposed to Religion
By excess
superstition
rendering to God what is unworthy of Him
rendering to man what should be rendered to God

26. By defect
tempting God
perjury
sacrilege
simony

27. VI. The Virtue of Piety
Definition
A supernatural habit inclining one to render one’s parents, country, and those related to these the reverence and service required
material object – acts of honor, reverence, etc. given to one’s parents, country, or those related to these
formal object – as secondary principle of one’s being

28. Sins against virtue of piety
They are special sins which need to be declared in confession
Excess
excessive love for one’ parents or country to disrespect of rights of others, including God
Defect
impiety – neglect of duties toward one’s parents, country, or relations

29. VII. The Gift of Piety
The gift of piety is a supernatural habit which causes a filial love for God as Father and a sentiment of universal brotherhood with all persons as children of the same Father
resides in the will
considers God as Father who has engendered supernatural life in us
venerate all men insofar as they are related to God, children of the same Father, thus our brothers and sisters
it perfects justice
world and creation are seen as the “House of the Father”

30. Effects of Gift of Piety
gives a filial tenderness toward God the Father
“we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” (cf. Rom 8:15-16)
gives filial abandonment to the Father (“Into your hands I commend my spirit”)
gives vivid awareness of the divine Paternity within the Trinity, generating the Son

31. allows us to see in our neighbor the image of the Son of God and to weep with those who weep (cf. Mt. 25)
to love all persons and things that are related to the Fatherhood of God and His family
B.V.M.
Saints and angels
Souls in purgatory
Pope
Priests
Churches and holy objects

32. Vices Opposed to the Gift of Piety
Hardness of Heart – an ill-regulated love of ourselves causing us to be unaffected by offenses toward God and His family
Means of Progress
Cultivate the spirit of adopted sons of God
beg for the gift of spiritual adoption and its awareness (cf. Dom Marmion)
do all in order to please your Heavenly Father

33. Cultivate a spirit of universal brotherhood and embrace the entire world with such love
“there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free” (Gal 3:26-28)
Consider all things as pertaining to the “House of God”
Eg. St. Francis of Assisi
Cultivate a spirit of complete abandonment to the Father
Trust and recognition of Divine Providence
Sacrament of the Moment

34. VIII. Virtue of Observance
Definition
honor - owed to all persons of excellence
obedience – owed to those who have jurisdiction over us
Honor
Saints – dulia
Mary – hyperdulia
Joseph – proto-dulia
God – latria

35. Obedience
virtue by which one’s will is prompt to carry out the commands of a superior
religious superior
parents
civil authority
employer
pastor

36. formal motive
authority representing God
This is often lacking, and when it is, there is only material obedience and not formal obedience. Then there is no real virtue of obedience.
Eg. grumbling and interior resistance, affection for superior of disordered nature, and mere reasonableness of command

37. classical divisions of obedience
mere external execution
internal submission of will
submission of intellectual judgment
Other elements important to obedience:
necessity to see Christ in Superior
ability to give reasons humbly against a given command
Obedience is the prosperity of religious communities and its lack the downfall of communities

38. Characteristics of Obedience
spirit of faith – see superior as representing God
conviction of command – infallibility of obeying and knowing will of God for me
offered for love of God – sacrifice my will and difficulty of obeying
promptness – not making Jesus wait
complete submission (total surrender)

39. spontaneity and joy – even anticipating the desires of the superior
humility – not drawing attention to one’s sacrifice encountered in obeying
magnanimity – gives the strength of martyrs
universality – to obey any and all superiors at all times
perseverance – to remain faithful in obedience in sickness and health, no matter what cost to me

40. False Obedience (Royo, 459-460)
Routine or mechanical obedience – like a robot without any interior devotion
legal obedience – just a minimalization of following the letter of the law
critical obedience – command is done but superior is criticized
paralyzed obedience – lax communities when obedience is not exacted

41. pseudo-mystical obedience – one invokes obedience to God (Holy Spirit) in order to be disobedient to a superior
camouflaged disobedience – inducing superior to change command
paradoxical obedience – pretense; imposing my will on superior
pharisaical obedience – act without submitting one’s will
spirit of opposition – caucus against superior, warring factions

42. egoistic obedience – motivated so as to win the esteem or affection of the superior
spirit of murmuring – unwilling acceptance of the will of the superior. The act is carried out with grumbling
half-hearted obedience – doing the task sloppily
slothful obedience – neglecting the fulfillment of the command; needing to be told numerous times before accomplishing it