Pragmatic approaches to presenting virtues

Here are some of the discussion points from the three groups which met:
Sr. Grace reporting for one group:
• Virtue can be defined in many ways: characteristics, attitudes, “Imago Dei”in our human nature, good act or deed, habit
• Virtue means different things to different people
• Is there a difference between living virtuously without believing in Christ?
• What is the difference? Everyone is capable of goodness regardless of faith or belief in Christ
• Perhaps a meaningful powerpoint presentation is a good approach
• Inviting young people to share from their experience is another good approach
• Virtue needs to be made experiential in order for it to be internalized, for it to be tried, for efforts to be made to achieve it
• Development of virtue needs to be like wiping a mirror clean; we do not know who we are until we wipe the mirror clean; seeing divine life allows us to see ourselves more clearly; but we cannot approach the divine without virtue
• Without opening the door, we cannot know the divine presence
• There are struggles with holiness: it demands an acceptance of our weaknesses; there is a danger of the struggle becoming the focus rather than God’s love; or there is also the danger of black and white thinking as holiness being perfection
• Sharing virtue requires a knowledge of the audience
• It is about convincing the audience to walk away motivated: “I can do this!”
• A loving community is one that is transformed through loving and forgiveness
• Open hearts are the most powerful means for obtaining and guiding others into virtue

• Struggles with virtue as a concept is the use of words considered old-fashioned and demands a word or expression that captures it better for a particular time and place; perhaps this is about directing characteristics or endorsing certain attitudes for life