Saints and Virtues
5 min: Opening prayer
10 min: Apologetics – Prayer to the Saints – page 32 to 35, and Misc ?’s #2 – page 41
15 min: Teaching:
What is a virtue?
It is a behavior showing high moral standards, a quality considered morally good or desirable in a
person. A moral excellence, a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and
thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics
valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. The opposite of virtue is vice.
If you are struggling with a certain vice or sin, pray for the virtue that counteracts that vice. Give
examples from below.
What are some virtues?
Meekness
Gentleness
Patience
Love
Humility
Obedience
Chastity
Capital/
Deadly Sins:
Vice
Principal
Virtues:
pride/
arrogance
avarice/
greed
Temperance
Modesty
Gratitude
Prudence
Generosity
Faith
Trust
envy/
jealousy
wrath/
anger
lust/
impurity
gluttony/
voracity
patience/
temperance/
humility/ generosity/ kindness/
chastity/
gratitude/ compassion/ purity/
moderation/
obedience/ charity/
gentleness/
love
gratitude faith
temperance/ prudence
meekness
modesty
sloth/
laziness
diligence/
fervor/
obedience
We are all children of God, and we are part of the whole kingdom of God. We are the church
militant – we are still fighting the battle. The holy souls in purgatory are referred to as the
church suffering; they are being purified so that they can enter heaven. And then there is the
church triumphant, these are the holy souls that have made it to heaven. The saints, known and
unknown have laid the path before us. We can look to the canonized (known) saints and
emulate/look to their lives. We can ask for their intercession to help us on this journey. They are
our family in Heaven; Our Spiritual Family, you have thousands of relatives praying for you, they
are a gift to us. Think of St. Francis Xavier as your spiritual uncle, or Mother Theresa as your
spiritual aunt.
There are well over 2000 known saints, each one is very different. There are some that were
holy from the start and some that lived very unholy lives and then converted their hearts
towards God. Some were martyred for the faith and some lived to an old age. Some suffered
greatly and some built up the church, hospitals, schools, and started many charities around the
world that are still in existence today. There are saints that were priests, monks, religious sisters,
husbands, wives, and children. Some saints were from the same family and some from very
unholy families. Saints are given a feast day to celebrate their life in Christ. Saints are also
known for certain causes, for example there are saints for hunters, cooks, teachers, police
officers, children, wives, nurses, doctors, lawyers, etc…
There are saints like Padre Pio that bi-located and had the Stigmata, St. Joseph of Cupertino
levitated, and many others performed miracles, healed the sick, and raised the dead. The list
goes on and on!
No matter the story, the mystical favors from God, or the background of the saint, it always
glorifies God’s great love, mercy, and power!
There is one thing that saints do have in common, that is that they all surrendered their life to
God and lived a life of virtue. Some saints are known more for a certain virtue than others, for
example: St. Maria Goretti was known most for purity/chastity. St. Faustina is known for the
virtues of obedience and mercy.
15 min:
Incorruptibles and Eucharistic Fasts – The Catholic faith is the only faith that God has granted these
miracles.
 There are some saints that survived for years on only the Eucharist and water.
Examples:
Blessed Alexandrina da Costa for 13 years, died in 1942
St Catherine of Sienna last 7 years of her life
 There are some saints that have been dead for hundreds of years and have not decomposed, we
call them incorruptible.
 Show the 3 min video here.
 The Incorruptibles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgW_JjCxuWA
45 min: ***Saint workshop time
Note: The rest of the class should be used for researching the saints. If there are students that
have already picked their name have them either research that saint more or they can help
another student that is still searching.
As you look for a saint for your Confirmation name there are many ways to look them up. You
can look for a certain date, maybe your birthday, you could look to see if there is a saint that has
a specific name that you like, or you can look up the Patron saint of a particular subject. (Patron
means one who supports and protects.)
Picking a saint name for your Confirmation is important because this saint will watch over you
and protect you. This is a saint that you can connect with on a spiritual level; this saint will help
to bring you closer to God. Get to know this saint, pray to this saint for help and protection, and
develop a friendship with the saint.
As you look for a saint to choose for your Confirmation name, bring it to prayer, is there a saint
that stands out or comes to mind? If so, you can guarantee that that saint is already praying for
you.
Close with prayer – asking the saints to intercede.
What is a virtue?
It is a behavior showing high moral standards, a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person. A moral
excellence, a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of
principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual
greatness. The opposite of virtue is vice.
What are some virtues?
Meekness
Gentleness
Patience
Love
Humility
Obedience
Chastity
Temperance
Modesty
Gratitude
Prudence
Generosity
Faith
Trust
If you are struggling with a certain vice or sin, pray for the virtue that counteracts that vice.
Capital/
Deadly Sins:
Vice
Principal
Virtues:
pride/
arrogance
avarice/
greed
envy/
jealousy
wrath/
anger
lust/
impurity
gluttony/
voracity
patience/
temperance/
humility/ generosity/ kindness/
chastity/
gratitude/ compassion/ purity/
moderation/
obedience/ charity/
gentleness/
love
gratitude faith
temperance/ prudence
meekness
modesty
sloth/
laziness
diligence/
fervor/
obedience
What is a virtue?
It is a behavior showing high moral standards, a quality considered morally good or desirable in a
person. A moral excellence, a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and
thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics
valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. The opposite of virtue is vice.
What are some virtues?
Meekness
Gentleness
Patience
Love
Humility
Obedience
Chastity
Temperance
Modesty
Gratitude
Prudence
Generosity
Faith
Trust
If you are struggling with a certain vice or sin, pray for the virtue that counteracts that vice.
Capital/
Deadly Sins:
Vice
Principal
Virtues:
pride/
arrogance
avarice/
greed
envy/
jealousy
wrath/
anger
lust/
impurity
gluttony/
voracity
patience/
temperance/
humility/ generosity/ kindness/
chastity/
gratitude/ compassion/ purity/
moderation/
obedience/ charity/
gentleness/
love
gratitude faith
temperance/ prudence
meekness
modesty
sloth/
laziness
diligence/
fervor/
obedience