27. VIRTUE AND VICE

27. VIRTUE AND VICE A WELL FORMED CONSCIENCE AND THE PRACTICE OF VIRTUE LEAD US TOWARD HOLINESS AND AWAY FROM SIN Compendium 370-400 Galatians 5:22-23 Conscience does not establish moral truth but rather perceives it. Our conscience is formed by the inner voice of God and the natural law of not doing unnecessary harm to others. In baptism and confirmation we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, fear of the Lord) We can never do evil so that good can come from it. We should treat others with the same dignity we wish for ourselves. We should accept others without condoning evil. We must recognize that we do not know everything and we can be wrong. When we make good habits we grow in the virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. We grow in the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, through prayer and the sacraments. Faith allows us to believe in God and all the Church teaches. Charity helps us to live the present moment well. Charity teaches us to love one another as Jesus loves us. The fruits of living the virtues are charity, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, generosity, modesty, self-control and purity. The vices are Pride, Envy, Greed, Lust, Anger, Sloth and Gluttony. These sinful habits damage our relationship with God and one another, diminish human solidarity and cause evil to gain power in the world.