Raising Catholic Kids Who Live the Virtues (Article)

A key element of Catholic parenting is to parent in a way that seeks to shape the heart of your child, not just manage their behavior. A great way to accomplish shaping your child’s heart is to offer opportunities to grow in virtue.

Unfortunately we don’t hear much about virtues anymore. We hear more about “values” because values are subjective. Different people can have different values. But virtues are habits to choose what is objectively good. What is a virtue for one person is a virtue for everyone.

The Catechism teaches us:
A virtue is a firm attitude to do what is right.  Its direct opposite is a vice.  A vice is a habit to do what is wrong. Prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance are called the human or cardinal virtues because they forge our human character. These four habits assist us in developing a pure heart that is open to God’s will.
“The moral virtues grow through education, deliberate acts and perseverance in struggle.  Divine grace (God’s special help that strengthens us) purifies and elevates the virtues in our lives.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1839

Excerpt taken from article, Raising Catholic Kids who Live the Virtues by Jeffrey Arrowood | https://twl4parents.com/