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Thomas Aquinas tells us that virtue is a habit that is essentially good consonant with our nature.  The opposite is vice, a habit that is essentially evil, inharmonious with our nature.  Virtue is a gift from God which empowers us to do good.

The Book of Wisdom tells us, ‘Once born, we abruptly came to nought and held no sign of virtue to display, but were consumed in our wickedness.’ (Wis. 5:13). St. Paul tells us to renew ourselves in the image of our creator and, ‘Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.’ We must also put to death, ‘Anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. and stop lying to one another.’ (Col. 3:5, 8-9)

The Apostle Peter tells us, “Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love,” (2 Pt. 1:5-7).

Let us try to counter the seven deadly sins with seven virtues – lust with chastity, gluttony with temperance, greed with charity, sloth with diligence, wrath with patience, envy with kindness, and pride with humility.

God of mercy, we petition you with heartfelt sorrow not to hold our sins against us, but to accept the sacrifice your Son made on our behalf for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.