Catholic Core Values
Bishop Rosecrans seeks to form our students in the four Cardinal Virtues—Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance—essential habits that order the soul rightly toward God. Drawing from Scripture, the Catechism, the Church’s teaching, and the wisdom of St. Augustine, we understand these virtues as lived expressions of caritas (love), rightly ordered toward the eternal rest and joy found in God alone.
Prudence — Right Ordering of Mind and Will
Scripture:
"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty." — Proverbs 22:3
Catechism:
“Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it.” (CCC 1806)
Saint Quote:
"Prudence is the knowledge of things to be sought, and those to be avoided." — St. Thomas Aquinas
Council Teaching:
The Second Vatican Council calls for prudence in daily life as an expression of Christian responsibility. (Gaudium et Spes, 43)
Augustinian Insight:
St. Augustine taught that prudence is the “right ordering of love”—it guides the soul to love God above all and to order all decisions according to that highest love. He writes in Confessions that true wisdom flows from loving God rightly, as all things are rightly known and judged in relation to Him. Prudence thus aligns intellect and will with the ultimate good.
Current-Day Application:
In a world flooded with information and choices—social media, peer pressure, and ethical dilemmas—students practice prudence by thoughtfully discerning which voices to trust, setting boundaries online, and making choices that align with their faith and values, avoiding harmful distractions or influences.
Justice — Ordered Love toward Neighbor and God
Scripture:
"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." — Isaiah 1:17
Catechism:
“Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor.” (CCC 1807)
Saint Quote:
"Justice is the steady and lasting willingness to give God and neighbor their due." — St. Ambrose
Council Teaching:
Justice is foundational for peace and coexistence. (Gaudium et Spes, 78)
Augustinian Insight:
For Augustine, justice is “caritas well-ordered.” It flows from loving God rightly and extends that love rightly to neighbor. Justice for Augustine means restoring the right relationships broken by sin, reflecting the divine order in human society. The soul at peace with God and neighbor practices justice as a fruit of charity.
Current-Day Application:
Students live justice by advocating for fairness in school and community, standing against bullying and discrimination, participating in service projects, and promoting respect for human dignity in all areas of life, recognizing each person as made in God’s image.
Fortitude — Courage in Loving God Amid Trials
Scripture:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9
Catechism:
“Fortitude ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.” (CCC 1808)
Saint Quote:
"Fortitude is the virtue that enables us to conquer fear and to face trials and persecutions." — St. Thomas Aquinas
Council Teaching:
Christians are called to witness boldly even amid suffering. (Lumen Gentium, 42)
Augustinian Insight:
Augustine sees fortitude as the steadfastness of love. It is the soul’s courage to endure hardships out of love for God, trusting that ultimate rest and joy lie beyond this world. Fortitude strengthens the will to persevere on the pilgrim journey, fueled by hope in God’s promises.
Current-Day Application:
In a culture that often discourages standing for faith or values, students show fortitude by courageously living out their beliefs, resisting peer pressure to compromise, and persevering through academic, social, or personal challenges with hope and trust in God.
Temperance — Moderation in Ordered Desire
Scripture:
"Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." — Proverbs 25:28
Catechism:
“Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods.” (CCC 1809)
Saint Quote:
"Temperance is moderation in the use of created goods." — St. Thomas Aquinas
Council Teaching:
Temperance preserves the soul’s freedom and integrity. (Gaudium et Spes, 38)
Augustinian Insight:
Temperance for Augustine is the ordered love of created things—not rejecting them but loving them in their place, subordinate to the love of God. Disordered desires lead to restlessness; true peace arises when the soul’s desires are rightly moderated, allowing it to rest in God alone, the ultimate good.
Current-Day Application:
BRHS Students practice temperance by cultivating healthy habits—such as balanced use of technology and social media, managing time well between work and rest, and developing self-discipline in lifestyle choices—to foster physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Summary - The Augustinian Path of Virtue
For St. Augustine, all virtues flow from caritas—charitable love rightly ordered toward God. The cardinal virtues are habits that form the soul’s capacity to love God and neighbor rightly, ordering the whole person in harmony with divine truth. Bishop Rosecrans embraces this vision, forming students to grow in virtue as a pathway to eternal rest and joy in God.
Our Patron Saint -
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Victory,
Mother most loving and powerful advocate,
You who triumphed by the Rosary’s grace
and brought light to darkness in battle and in life,
Guide us to live with hearts formed in your Son’s love,
Root us deeply in the virtues that lead to holiness:
Grant us Prudence to see clearly the path of truth,
That we may choose wisely in every moment,
Ordering our loves rightly toward God above all.
Grant us Justice to love our neighbors as ourselves,
Standing for what is right and defending the weak,
Reflecting your Son’s mercy in all our actions.
Grant us Fortitude to face challenges bravely,
To hold firm in faith when trials come,
And to persevere with hope in God’s victorious love.
Grant us Temperance to moderate our desires,
That we may find freedom in self-mastery,
And rest in the peace of God’s eternal embrace.
Through your intercession and the power of the Rosary,
Strengthen us to be witnesses of Christ’s truth and charity,
Living as victorious disciples in today’s world.
Amen.
