The Four Virtues

In Christianity, the theological virtues are:

• Faith
• Hope
• Charity

From 1 Corinthians 13:13. St. Paul defined these three chief virtues. Christian Church authorities called them the “Three Theological Virtues” because they believed these virtues were not natural to man in his fallen state, but were conferred at Baptism.

The Four Cardinal Virtues:

• Fortitude (Courage)
• Temperance (Temperance)
• Prudence (Wisdom)
• Justice (Justice)

From Wisdom 8:7
The Seven Heavenly Virtues:

• Faith
• Hope
• Charity
• Courage
• Justice
• Temperance
• Wisdom

The Heavenly Virtues combine the four Cardinal Virtues and the three Theological Virtues.

The Seven Contrary Virtues:

• Humility
• Kindness
• Abstinence
• Chastity
• Patience
• Liberality
• Diligence

The Contrary Virtues were derived from the Psychomachia (”Battle for the oul”), an epic poem written by Prudentius (c. 410).

Practicing these virtues is alleged to protect one against temptation toward the Seven Deadly Sins: humility against pride, kindness against envy, abstinence against gluttony, chastity against lust, patience against anger, liberality against greed, and diligence against sloth.