Human Flourishing, Virtues and Character Education

“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Jesus’ words in John’s gospel express the aim of human life as ‘human flourishing’. Our whole business in this life is to flourish by seeking to form our character through the pursuit of personal strengths called virtues: excellences of character which are theological, moral, civic, intellectual and performative.

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have excellence, but we rather have this because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” (Aristotle)

Excellence in all aspects of life is pursued by repeatedly performing particular virtues that build our character so that we become what we repeatedly do. Catholic Christianity has a particular set of virtues – excellences of character – that it prizes, these are: faith, hope, love, justice, solidarity, temperance, courage and practical wisdom.

Each of these fundamental virtues also have particular aspects that the Church also prizes because they enable the human person to respond appropriately to situations in any area of experience.

Virtues at Our Lady of Lourdes

At Our Lady of Lourdes, the expression of these virtues is celebrated weekly during our assemblies. We strive to ensure that our children can identify these virtues, notice them and seek for opportunities to put them into action. 

Children are introduced to particular virtues each year, they get the chance to define them, notice them across aspects of the curriculum and nominate others for recognition when these virtues are 'caught in action'.

The 'formation of the character' is a key aspect of Catholic Education and by instilling opportunities for children to grow their character, we are guiding them on their own journey of faith with Christ and towards the fruits of the Holy Spirit.