Holiness and Self Possession

1. The Universal Call to Holiness
   1. Vatican II’s statement
   2. The New Evangelization is through personal holiness
   3. Holiness encompasses both Body and Spirit, wholeness
2. Self Possession
   1. What Adam and Eve had before the fall: perfect integration of body and spirit: neither angelism nor animalism
   2. They possessed themselves: they were in control of themselves (they were free to do good and bad, which is not the case for us)
   3. B/c they possessed themselves, they had the gift to give (people who are out of control can’t give of themselves). This will be important latter as we discuss vocations.
3. Gaining self possession: virtue
   1. Virtue is what makes us able to choose good. We aren’t free if we aren’t able. (Pick a sport and show how a bad player isn’t free to do a perfect job.)
   2. Just like an athlete, this takes practice
   3. Virtue: defn a habit of doing what is good (it comes easily in almost every difficult situation)
   4. There are natural and supernatural virtues, the supernatural come from God as gifts: faith hope and love But they don’t have a very big impact in our lives unless they have a natural foundation to stand on. (i.e. a clepto who gets baptized still may want to steal)
   5. The natural virtues are ones we can actively practice so that the supernatural will have a greater impact in our lives. I would like to teach about these so that at a practical level you will be able to take concrete steps towards gaining control over your actions, and ultimately the freedom of possessing yourself

Notes on the Natural Virtues

Prudence – Enables our minds to know the right kind of action in a particular situation (above the mere negative moral norms) and helps us practice all the virtues in just the right way.

   What can we do? Develop our consciences through study of scripture, church teaching and advice from wise people we trust. Also reading good books through which we learn lessons without having to endure the situation while reflecting on how the person does and the outcomes etc… Take time to reflect on the situations in our lives and ask for God to help us see how He would have us act. WWJD. Be careful not to falsify our memory, be willing to be taught and to learn, be critical of the instruction that we are given, taking time to stop and think about what I should do, keep in mind that my ultimate goal is always heaven.


Justice – Enables us to give others what they have a right to as a child of God or to God himself!

   What can we do? Reflect on my role in my community, that God has put me here for a reason, and so I have the responsibility to___ (care for others in many ways). Be true to the things we tell others; be where you say you will be when you say you will be there; respect others (i.e. don’t say bad things about them), return what you borrow and in good condition, leave things the way you found them, do your part at home (chores etc…), encourage your parents to vote, you vote! Don’t insult others, help reconcile enemies, treat all equally (don’t play favorites). Give God his due: thru prayer, adoration, devotion, sacrifice, tithes, and vows; don’t take part in superstitions; submit through obedience to those in authority; be truthful; be friendly (conduct yourself agreeably) this is a virtue!; keep secrets what should be kept; don’t try to be a different person in order to please others, don’t waste the gifts God gives you and all of us (i.e. recycle).


Temperance – Enables us to find the right balance and order in life and in situations helps us to balance and put in the right order all of our desires from important to not.

   What can we do? Take time to take care of our bodies without driving them to death; don’t indulge in to much of anything, pleasurable food, work, play, clothes, TV, time at friends, shopping, video games etc… Hang out with holy people so you can have an example of how to balance life’s many different aspects, appreciate the goodness of what God has created, keep your mind pure, avoid tempting situations, do not seek revenge, be careful not to become to angry, be accepting of your shortcomings before God, seek knowledge but not gossip, be modest in the way you dress, be polite.


Fortitude – Enables us to be brave and do what it takes to fight evil (keeping in mind the other virtues)

    What can we do? Do everything we can to improve bad situations unless nothing can be done, and then patiently endure the situation and pray for God to change it; be ready and willing to die for what you desire and be willing to do what needs to be done either by confronting evil (this should be done first) or then by enduring it; be calm even when things get annoying, persevere in the face of obstacles and delays, be willing to do hard work to become holy, keep praying, even if you don’t feel anything coming from it (if it is boring and seemingly unfruitful); Don’t do things just to get a reward, but because they are the right thing to do; do not honor earthly things to much; do not try to do things that are above you; don’t get what you don’t need.


*Recommended: Dictionary of Virtues by Kevin Orlin Johnson

Annie Vining can be contacted at avining@tobet.org

The Theology of the Body Evangelization Team can be reached at info@tobet.org