Q’s from the Pews: How does a virtuous life lead to freedom? July 20, 2025

St. Thomas Aquinas listed four cardinal virtues: prudence (caution), temperance (balance), justice (fairness), and fortitude (perseverance). These virtues, espoused by ancient Greek philosophers, were explored by Aquinas, freely quoting from Aristotle’s work “Nicomachean Ethics.” Also known as the Angelic Doctor, Aquinas’ genius was to see these virtues perfected in the person of Christ and, by analogy, Christian tradition. He reasoned that we attain true freedom only by living a life of virtue, thus enabling us to obtain to our true created self (Imago Dei) which Aquinas calls the “Freedom of Excellence.” “By virtues, man is disposed to beatitude, and by sin, he is blocked. Contrary to virtue, sin constitutes an obstacle to beatitude by seducing the soul from its due end in God (Contra Gentiles).” By linking Aristotle’s cardinal virtues to the beatitudes, Aquinas gives us the path to holiness and true freedom.

When combined with the Christian theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, they create a path to freedom by countering sin. They promote freedom by releasing us from being controlled by temptation, which leads to sin and thus separation from God. Charity (love) is the source of all virtues (“the greatest of these is love” 1 Cor 13:13). Love counters against pride (“you will be like god” Gen 3:5), the source of all sins. Prudence and justice counter against greed (wanting more than is needed). Temperance, prudence and fortitude counter against lust (untamed desire). Fortitude and temperance counter against gluttony (obsession with something). Justice, faith and hope counter against envy (desiring someone to suffer). Justice and temperance counter wrath (extreme anger). Faith, hope, and fortitude counter sloth (lacking desire to carry on- despair).

Other combinations are possible. Seek true freedom through living the virtues!