The Seven Christian Virtues
The public is invited to our Cardinal Virtue presentations, scheduled throughout the 2019-2020 academic year.
These speakers and topics were chosen to create thought-provoking dialogue as Saint Mary's cultivates in its learners virtues that will guide them throughout their educational journeys and as they enter the world as leaders in their professions and communities.
Featured Speaker
The Rev. Stephen Joseph Fichter, Ph.D.
Church Leadership in the Third Millennium: Recent Research on Catholic Bishops in the U.S.
Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. - Saint Mary's Twin Cities Campus
University Center
2540 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, Minn.
Thursday, Jan. 16 at 12 p.m. - Saint Mary's Winona Campus
700 Terrace Heights
Winona, Minn.
Reverend Stephen Joseph Fichter, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology, obtained a Ph.L. and an S.T.B. from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, an M.S.W. from Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Service, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Rutgers University.
Father Stephen is a research associate specializing in clergy studies at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University. In coordination with the National Organization for Continuing Education for Roman Catholic Clergy (NOCERCC), he has worked on many Cultivating Unity projects for dioceses throughout the United States.
Father Stephen is co-author of the book, Same Call, Different Men: The Evolution of the Priesthood since Vatican II, published by Liturgical Press. His newest book, Catholic Bishops in the United States: Church Leadership in the Third Millennium, is published by Oxford University Press.
Father Stephen was the Parochial Vicar at St. Gabriel the Archangel in Saddle River from 2000 to 2008. He then became the Pastor of the Sacred Heart Parish in Haworth until he assumed the role of Pastor at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Wyckoff in July 2017.
Upcoming Cardinal Virtue Presentations
Past Speakers
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES: WHY BOTHER WITH HUMANITIES?
The Rev. John W. O’Malley, S.J., Professor of Theology, Georgetown University
Thursday, Nov. 7, at 6:15 p.m. - Saint Mary's Twin Cities Campus
Temperance
Dr. Eleonore Stump, Robert J. Henle Professor of Philosophy, Saint Louis University
Thursday, April 25, 7 p.m. - Saint Mary's Winona Campus
Fortitude - Courage
Dr. Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Boston College
Thursday, March 28, 2019 - Saint Mary's Cascade Meadow Center
Friday, March 29, 2019 - Winona Campus
Prudence - Practical Wisdom
Candace Vogler, Ph.D., David B. and Clara E. Stern Professor of Philosophy, The University of Chicago
February 21, 2019 - Winona Campus
Justice, Dynamism, and Social Order
Catherine Pakaluk, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
December 12, 2018 - Twin Cities Campus
Cardinal Virtues
Prudence (Practical Wisdom) is an intellectual aptitude that enables us to make
judgments that are consonant with our proper end as human beings.
Temperance, in a general sense, denotes a kind of moderation common to every moral
virtue and is directed to the good.
Courage (Fortitude) moderates those desires that prevent us from undertaking more
daunting, difficult tasks — even allowing us to endure pain and discomfort when necessary
in pursuit of truth and good.
Justice is a sustained or constant willingness to extend to each person what he or she
deserves in relation to what is truly good for that individual, and having both community
and individual elements related to it.
Theological Virtues
Faith is the virtue whereby we assent to the truth of supernaturally revealed principles.
Hope is the virtue whereby we trust God in obtaining final happiness.
Charity (Love) is the virtue whereby we love God for His own sake; charity is a state
whereby our desires are uniformly ordered to God.