Knight of the Month
A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of themselves. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all their sensory and spiritual powers; they pursue the good and choose it in concrete actions. At Holy Trinity, staff nominate students monthly for one of the following Knightly virtues:
Faith: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1
Faith can be exemplified by someone who lives their lives according to "What Would Jesus Do?" and tries to spread the Word of God. This person practices their faith throughout the day and is not afraid to stand out as a believer. They show reverence and respect to God, are not afraid to show that they follow God and they make decisions based on Christian values.
Hope: "Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity." - CCC1818
Hope can be exemplified by a positive person who shows the possibility of a promising future by striving to better themselves. They may be someone who is in a tough situation themselves but holds their head up high and works hard to overcome their own obstacles. A hopeful person is unselfish; they inspire hope by caring for others, helping their peers and cheering them on. A hopeful person is focused; they work hard because they want to succeed.
Love: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."- John 15:12
Love can best be shown through individuals who respect everyone and treat them as equals. They stick up for others and are not quick to judge. This virtue can be shown by the extent that one goes out of their way to help others, often putting aside their own wants in order to do so. Someone who demonstrates love shows sympathy to their peers; they are compassionate, friendly, generous, and willing to sacrifice their time and energy to better someone’s day.
Mercy: "Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." —Colossians 3:13
Mercy is the disposition to be kind and forgiving. Founded on compassion, mercy differs from compassion or the feeling of sympathy in putting this feeling into practice with a readiness to assist. It is therefore the ready willingness to help anyone in need, especially in need of pardon or reconciliation.
Courage: "I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9
Courage is the virtue of bravery in facing difficulties, especially in overcoming the fear of consequences in doing good. As moral courage, it enables a person to pursue a course deemed right, through which one may incur contempt, disapproval, or opprobrium. As physical courage, it is bodily or emotional strength to withstand opposition. (Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary)
Justice: "Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice." ⎯Psalm 112:5
Justice, as a virtue, is the constant and permanent determination to give everyone their rightful due. It is a habitual inclination of the will and therefore always recognizes each one's rights, under any and all circumstances.
Generosity: "You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us." - 2 Corinthians 9:11
Generosity is the virtue of being liberal in giving. Generosity is giving to another person something of yours as an act of freewill, without obligation. Generosity requires an awareness of your own freedom—I choose to give this gift—and the decision to make good use of that freedom—I choose to do good.
Fortitude: "Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life." - CCC 1808
The cardinal virtue of fortitude involves practicing what is good and just when it is difficult or even dangerous. A person of fortitude practices patience when meeting obstacles. They do what is right, even when others criticize them.
Humility: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves." - Philippians 2:3
Humility is the virtue that keeps a person from reaching beyond themself. It is the virtue that restrains the desire for personal greatness and leads people to an orderly love of themselves based on a true appreciation of their position with respect to God and their neighbors.
Perseverance: "And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." —Romans 5:3-5
Perseverance is important for virtue development. Virtue is the habit of doing good. Habits come about because we repeat something over and over again, persevering and not giving up at the first difficulty. A person who does not give up when they face difficulties demonstrates perseverance.
Honour: "Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of their name and reputation and to respect." - CCC 2479
Honour is showing great respect for yourself, other people and the rules you live by. When you are honourable, you keep your word. You do the right thing regardless of what others are doing.
Compassion" 'Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out; judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy." —Proverbs 31:8-9
Having compassion simply means to possess a deep feeling of sympathy and sorrow for those who are stricken by misfortune, coupled with a strong desire to alleviate their suffering. Compassion is when you stop your busy life to pour into the needs of others. Compassion, which is rooted in love, takes on the pain of the sufferer, but with the hope that some positive good will emerge from this shared suffering.
Loyalty: "What is desirable in a person is loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar." - Proverbs 19:22
Loyalty is fulfilling a promise or faithful dedication. A person who chooses to not swerve from the path the Lord has for them demonstrates loyalty. A person who has the opportunity to veer from the path of friendship but chooses not to demonstrate loyalty.
Truthfulness: "I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth." - 3 John 1:4
Being truthful means being real and honest with the facts, but it also means living in a way where what you know to be true influences your daily actions. A truthful person doesn't tell lies even to defend themself. A truthful person won’t listen to gossip or prejudice, or exaggerate or deceive to impress others.
Courtesy: "So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith." —Galatians 6:9-10
Courtesy means showing respect for others. Human beings need to be acknowledged as having value. They need to be honored as human beings. Courtesy does this. It is the virtue that acknowledges that the other human being is worthy of being honored simply because he is a human being.
Gratitude: "For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive?" —1 Corinthians 4:7
Gratitude is the virtue by which a person acknowledges gifts received. It includes three elements: acknowledgment that a gift has been received, appreciation expressed in thankfulness, and as far as possible some return for what has been freely given with no obligation on the donor's part.
Mentorship: "Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another." —Proverbs 27:17
Being a mentor to someone means providing them with wise and influential counseling when they are open to receiving it. Mentoring is an exchange of ideas and questions (by the mentee) and advice and input (by the mentor). A true knight leaves a legacy and passes on their virtues to others.
Nobility
A noble person conforms to a standard of what is right and good. We can choose to live with highest integrity or we can choose not to – we make decisions all day every day that take us on the higher path or easy path. A noble person strives to choose the higher path.