Virtues

We have reduced all virtues to one: being nice. And, we measure Jesus by our standard instead of measuring our standard by Him. For the Christian, explains author Peter Kreeft, being virtuous is not a means to the end of pleasure, comfort and happiness. Virtue, he reminds us, is a word that means "manly strength." But how do we know when we are being meek--or just cowardly? When is our anger righteous--and when is it a sin? What is the difference between being virtuous--and merely ethical? Back to Virtue clears up these and countless other questions that beset Christians today. Kreeft not only summarizes scriptural and theological wisdom on leading a holy life, he contrasts Christian virtue with other ethical systems. He applies traditional moral theology to present-day dilemmas such as abortion and nuclear armament. Kreeft restores to us what was once common knowledge: the Seven Deadly Sins have an antidote in the Beatitudes. By setting up a close contrast between the two sets of behaviors, Kreeft offers proven guidance in the often bewildering process of discerning right from wrong as we move into the questionable mores of the twenty-first century. He provides a road map of virtue, a map for our earthly pilgrimage synthesized from the accumulated wisdom of centuries of Christians, from Paul and the early Church Fathers through C.S. Lewis.

This volume, three separate books in one edition, is a collection of Josef Pieper's famous treatises on the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love. Each of these treatises was originally published as a separate work over a period of thirty-seven years, and here they are brought together in English for the first time. The first of the three that he wrote, On Hope, was written in 1934 in response to the general feeling of despair of those times. His "philosophical treatise" on Faith was derived from a series of lectures he gave in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His most difficult work, one that he struggled with for years - and almost abandoned - was his work On Love. Pieper now feels that this is the most important book he has written. He discusses not only the theological virtue of caritas-agape, but also of eros, sexuality, and even "love" of music and wine.

In The Four Cardinal Virtues, Joseph Pieper delivers a stimulating quartet of essays on the four cardinal virtues. He demonstrates the unsound overvaluation of moderation that has made contemporary morality a hollow convention and points out the true significance of the Christian virtues.

This classic work from Thomas à Kempis, author of The Imitation of Christ, is now available in English for the first time.

It is a simple truth that, without the virtue of humility, we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It simply cannot be done. Just as pride is the root and source of all sin, so is humility the foundational virtue in which all other virtues must be grounded if they are to bear fruit.

Humility is the heartbeat of the saints. It is the virtue that conforms us most closely to Christ. In this short but deeply rich book, the great spiritual master, Thomas à Kempis, will teach you the necessity of humility and how to cultivate it, how to identify the manifestations of pride, how to elevate your mind to God, and how to pray with humility and reverence.

This timeless work also includes some of the most beautiful prayers ever written to God, the Blessed Mother, and the saints that will help you advance in virtue and pray with fervor.

Saint Benedict's fifth-century guide to humility offers the antidote to the
epidemic of stress and depression overwhelming modern young adults. But the
language of The Rule by Saint Benedict is medieval, and its
most passionate advocates are cloistered monks and nuns. How then does this
ancient wisdom translate into advice for ordinary people?

With candor,
humor, and a unique approach to classical art, Father Augustine, a high school
teacher and coach, breaks down Saint Benedict's method into twelve pithy steps
for finding inner peace in a way that can be applied to anyone's life.

Drawing upon his own life experiences, both before and after becoming a
Benedictine monk, the author explains every step, illustrating each chapter with
color reproductions of sacred art that he has embellished with comic flourishes.
The winsome combination is sure to keep readers from taking themselves too
seriously--which is already a first step on the path to humility.

Humility is the key to all the virtues. It's the necessary foundation for growth in all the others. If we do not know ourselves--if we cannot see our flaws and strengths (but especially our flaws)--clearly, how can we grow in virtue? How can we begin to make ourselves less and God more?

Indeed, in our age of social media where it's a constant race to appear the best, to put up a front, to show others a false image (and to show ourselves a false image) cultivating humility is perhaps more important now than ever.

Know Thyself then is an invaluable resource for a prideful age. Adapted from Rev. Fr. Cajetan da Bergamo's classic Humility of Heart and supplemented with writings from the saints and powerful scripture passages, Know Thyself will reinvigorate you each day in the struggle to be like Christ, to be "meek and humble of heart."

This beautiful hardcover book--with updated language for the contemporary reader and reorganized with a logical progression--is perfect for everyday use. New features that help you put your reading into spiritual action include:

Saints quote for every day followed by a short meditation on humility.

With Prayers for Humility and Scripture Verses on Humility

Guided meditations that will bring about a deeper self-knowledge

Are you having problems in a family relationship? Struggling to find fulfillment in your work? Do you find it difficult to have regular, deep prayer? Whatever your struggle, growing in true humility will help solve it.

Spend the next 100 days with this book--spend the next 100 days contemplating, meditating upon, and growing in humility--and your problems, your struggles will improve. That's the power of humility and that's the power of Know Thyself.

Revised and updated, this fifteenth anniversary edition of A Return to Modesty reignites Wendy Shalit's controversial claim that we have lost our respect for an essential virtue: modesty.When A Return to Modesty was first published in 1999, its argument launched a worldwide discussion about the possibility of innocence and romantic idealism. Wendy Shalit was the first to systematically critique the "hook-up" scene and outline the harms of making sexuality so public. Today, with social media increasingly blurring the line between public and private life, and with child exploitation on the rise, the concept of modesty is more relevant than ever. Updated with a new preface that addresses the unique problems facing society now, A Return to Modesty shows why "the lost virtue" of modesty is not a hang-up that we should set out to cure, but rather a wonderful instinct to be celebrated. A Return to Modesty is a deeply personal account as well as a fascinating intellectual exploration into everything from seventeenth-century manners to the 1948 tune "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Beholden neither to social conservatives nor to feminists, Shalit reminds us that modesty is not prudery, but a natural instinct--and one that may be able to save us from ourselves.

In this new book by bestselling author, Edward Sri, we discover the close connection between growing in the virtues and growing in friendship and community with others. A consummate teacher, Dr. Sri leads us through the virtues with engaging examples and an uncanny ability to anticipate and answer our most pressing questions. Dr. Sri shows us in his inimitable, easy-to-read style, that the virtues are the basic life skills we need to give the best of ourselves to God and to the people in our lives. In short, the practice of the virtues give us the freedom to love.

Behind every virtue is a vice. Likewise, behind every vice is a virtue that, when developed and strengthened, can overcome the vice, writes Fr. Ortega, an authority in moral behavior. In Vices and Virtues, he reveals how to leverage faults and weaknesses to forge virtues. In this three-part how-to guide, readers will get to know themselves with honesty, learn to accept themselves and their faults in humility, and begin to improve their lives by cultivating virtues. It might seem like an impossible task, but you'll have help and motivation from the highest source. Developing virtue can help you achieve balance in your life and holiness.