DRE, Ibadan Archdiocese

The seven capital virtues are supposedly developed as the opposites to the seven vices, otherwise called the seven deadly sins, in the teaching of the Church.

The seven vices or deadly sins are those itemized by St. Gregory the Great around the 6th century. He referred to the group of sins that are deadly because of their potential to lead to several grave sins in the soul of a person. They are more of shortcomings in the lifestyle or habits of a person, which, when not checked, can advance to grave injuries to the soul, causing it to lose the sanctifying grace of God.

The deadly sins are pride, anger, lust, envy, covetousness, gluttony and sloth. Therefore, the opposite of these capital vices are the capital virtues, which hinge on the cardinal virtues of humility, meekness, chastity, brotherly love, liberality, temperance and diligence.

 

1. Humility: It is the quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance.

Dictionary definitions describe humility as a low self-regard and sense of unworthiness. Humility is the opposite of pride, which is one of the seven capital sins discussed in the previous section. It is the quality of having a low view of one's importance, and not being proud, but humble and easy-going in all situations. Humility is a situation in which one sees oneself as being insignificant or in-consequential. It inspires a form of behaviour in which one shows genuine gratitude and lack of arrogance. A humble person is able to say ‘thank you’ and ‘I am sorry’ as the occasion demands.

Humility is an important virtue because it makes one not to believe that he or she is better than others.

In a religious context, humility can mean self-debasement in recognition of the self in relation to a deity, with subsequent submission to the deity as a member of that religion. Outside of a religious context, humility is defined as a liberation from the consciousness of the self, and a form of temperance that is neither haughty nor indulging in self-appreciation.

 

2. Meekness: The fact or condition of being meek, humble, mild, submissive.

Meekness is the one virtue above all others, which allows us to remain ourselves in the midst of adversity. It allows us to maintain self-possession when adversity strikes, rather than be possessed by the adversity itself. Meekness is more synonymous with empowerment than it is with weakness. Meekness is not cowardice, timidity or servility; it is the power that restrains the onslaught of anger, and subjects it to the order of reason. While it may be more natural to express anger when one is assaulted, meekness is the higher path, which prevents evil from completely overcoming the person who is already suffering enough from evil. Meekness prevents this suffering from advancing to the precincts of the soul first, to depression, and then to despair.

When we are overwhelmed by anger, we lose that sense of ourselves that allows God to dwell within us. Anger excludes God but meekness invites his presence. Since meekness is self-possession in the face of adversity, it enables a person to do good in response to evil.