Examples of Virtues recommended in Scripture
Poverty and almsgiving
If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven." Matthew 19:21
"And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or
mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an
hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting." Matthew 19:29
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he
became poor, for your sakes; that through his poverty you might be rich" 2 Cor
8:9
"Yet one thing is wanting to thee: sell all whatever thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me" Luke 18:22
And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said: Blessed are ye poor, for
yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20
Riches
"Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth" Matthew 6:19
But woe to you that are rich: for you have your consolation. Luke 6:24
Self Denial and Martyrdom
"And every one that hath left house, or
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for
my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life
everlasting." Matthew 19:29
"And he said to all: If any man will come after
me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his
life, shall lose it; for he that shall lose his life for my
sake, shall save it." Luke 9:23-24
Remaining unmarried
"But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if
they so continue, even as I" 1 Cor 7:8
"But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a
wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please
God. But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how
he may please his wife: and he is divided" 1 Cor 7:32-33
Chastity, Virginity and Continence
"And after those days every man returned to his house, and Judith was
made great in Bethulia, and she was most renowned in all the land of Israel. And
chastity was joined to her virtue, so that she knew no man all the days of her
life, after the death of Manasses her husband. And on festival days she came
forth with great glory" Judith 16:25-27
"For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and
there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made
themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take
it." Matt 19:12
"But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience,
benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continence,
chastity" Gal 5:22-23
"For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not
subject to anger, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre: But
given to hospitality, gentle, sober, just, holy, continent" 1 Titus 7-8
Obedience and Worldly Desires
Servants, be obedient to them that are your lords according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to
Christ: Not serving to the eye, as it were pleasing men, but, as the
servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart" Eph 6:5-6
For as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners; so also by the
obedience of one, many shall be made just" Rom 5:19
Exhort servants to be obedient to their masters, in all things pleasing, not
gainsaying: Not defrauding, but in all things shewing good fidelity, that they
may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things: For the grace of God
our Saviour hath appeared to all men; Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness
and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this
world. Titus 2:9-12
