Education in Virtue
At Christ the King, we seek to be virtuous. Virtue is the habit of doing good. It allows a person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. Jesus Christ is the model for living a virtuous life.
We are all called to live a life of virtue, and we can practice it in small ways every day. St. Gregory of Nyssa says, "The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God."
Grade-level Virtue
Each grade focuses on learning about and cultivating one of the Cardinal virtues:
Freshman: TEMPERANCE
Enables one to be moderate in the pleasure and use of created goods.
Sophomore: PRUDENCE
Enables one to reason and act rightly in any given situation.
Junior: FORTITUDE
Enables one to endure difficulties for the sake of what is good.
Senior: JUSTICE
Giving to each, beginning with God, what is due him.
Students engage in a Summer Reading assignment that contains concrete examples of the virtue being lived out. They acquire a basic understanding of virtue and start to connect virtuous living to their own lives. Grade-level retreats also emphasize the importance of virtue in the spiritual life!
The Disciple of Christ, Education in Virtue program was developed by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist and is based on the teachings of Saint Thomas Aquinas on virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You can learn more about it on their website openlightmedia.com/education-in-virtue/.
Virtue of the Month
At CTK, we have one virtue each month that we focus on and dedicate to growing in as a school community. Teachers incorporate this virtue into their classes and we pray every afternoon for the grace to practice that virtue. We strive to practice virtues in everything we do at CTK. Throughout the month, students and teachers can "shout out" others who live out the virtue of the month. We select one student and one teacher each month to recognize for being virtuous!
| Month | Virtue | Saint |
|---|---|---|
| August | What is Virtue? | |
| September | Docility (Prudence) | St. Dominic Savio |
| October | Meekness (Temperance) | St. Therese of Lisieux |
| November | Patriotism (Justice) | St. Thomas a Becket |
| December | Magnificence (Fortitude) | St. Maximilian Kolbe |
| January | Respect (Justice) | St. Catherine of Alexandria |
| February | Courtesy (Justice) | St. Rose of Lima |
| March | Perseverance (Fortitude) | St. Monica |
| April | Eutrapelia (Temperance) | St. Philip Neri |
| May | Affability (Justice) | Bl. Pier Georgio Frassati |