DRE, Ibadan Archdiocese

 

5. Diligence: Careful and persistent work or effort.

Diligence is a careful and persistent application of effort or work. A process of carrying out an activity with great vigour and high dexterity. It is the ability of an individual to carry out an assignment effectively and efficiently. Diligence means careful attention, assiduous, persistent, endeavour. Diligence is one of the seven Christian values and virtues dealing with the effort of a Christian to do his or her part while keeping faith and reliance in God.

Diligence as a virtue depicts thoroughness, completeness and persistence in an action, particularly in matters of faith.

 

6. Liberality: The quality of giving freely. It can also mean the quality of being open to new ideas and free from prejudice.

Liberality consists in being ready and willing, because of the love of God, to give pecuniary assistance to those who are in need. He who relieves the needy in order to elicit the praise of others has no claim to the virtue of liberality, because he or she is not actuated by the love of God. Even the poor may be liberal, because liberality does not depend upon giving largely, but upon giving with good will. It is the disposition of the giver that makes the gift great or small. The liberal man is like God, for by showing mercy, we resemble our heavenly Father, whose mercy is perfect and infinite.

 

7. Chastity: The state or practice of refraining from all sexual immoralities.

Chastity is in a way related to the virtue of temperance. It is defined as refraining from sexual misconduct. The term is closely associated with sexual abstinence, especially in the context of premarital and extramarital affairs. The word 'Chaste' and 'Chastity' stem from the Latin adjective Castus, meaning Pure. Chaste is referred to being virtuous or pure from unlawful sexual relationships/acts.

In many Christian traditions, chastity is synonymous with sexual purity, which refers to not having any sexual relations before marriage. It also means fidelity to husband or wife during marriage. Chastity is placed opposite to the deadly sin of Lust. The moderation of sexual desires is required to be virtuous. Reason, will, and desire can harmoniously work together to obtain the good.