Virtue as a SUPER-Power
It is important to think of virtue not as some numinous obscure trait that only perfect or sanctified people possess. Our souls are designed and destined for VIRTUE to be an everyday thing. However, virtue has a developmental quality about it. We begin with our own efforts to be and do what is good, and as we allow the power of grace to animate our thoughts and actions, virtue becomes an interior disposition of holiness. (That’s when it can be thought of as a “super power.”) Great writers and saints like Thomas Aquinas explain the rich theology of virtue. That’s not what the Virtue Heroes™ effort is all about. The focus here is to tap into the simple and practical step-by-step experience of it, so we can guide young people toward a life of character and conscience.
This is the TRUTH: God designed our souls for the freedom of loving and living with virtue, not to be captives of self-absorbed pride and fear. Let’s help children use their imagination to embrace that truth… and the joy that flows from it.
There is a profound value in the power of gestures to provide concrete signs of deep spiritual realities that can transform the heart. Examples we can easily recognize are the Sign of the Cross and the pouring of water in Baptism. Children respond to gestures. Just think of all the songs with hand motions that they enjoy.
The Virtue Power Gestures
Below are four gestures to help a child know that embracing virtue as their real life SUPER-Power is not only possible, but has a process that anyone can experience. The Holy Spirit is our master teacher, our virtue training mentor, who is available 24/7, and who is only one thought away. What begins as a big game of PRETEND can affect a child’s soul in a profoundly REAL way.
Here is the way to do it. (The bolded phrases help grownups to know what to say to and do with a child.) You can go through this article with a child to show them the gestures and allow them to do each for themselves.
Gesture #1: The “small-v” Peace Sign.
Explain that everyday virtue begins for all of us as “small-v” virtue. Have the child hold up two fingers as a peace sign. We imagine small-v virtue is the starting point where we work hard to have thoughts and actions of goodness. This form of everyday virtue does help bring peace between us, because the goodness we are working hard to achieve often has peacefulness as a result. This kind of virtue can be a bit tiring, because we are doing it with our own strength. No problem. As we build some “small-v” everyday virtue habits, the Holy Spirit will always invite us to increase our power with more of God’s strength.
Gesture #2: Praying Hands
Everyday virtue needs God’s grace to go beyond being a good habit that we work hard at. How do we get God’s grace? Prayer. Use your praying hands in the next step in virtue superpower training. Take a moment to fold hands with flat palms and say some prayers. When we sincerely pray and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with God’s strength, God always responds. An extra-special way to experience God’s grace and power is to pray for the needs of others. When our prayer asks for blessings for someone else, that builds extra virtue strength in us!
Gesture #3: Open Hands - “Big V” makes room for “G-Force”
Prayer unleashes God’s grace. For the Virtue Heroes, we call it: “G-force,” in our soul. It’s the force to propel us forward spiritually, and builds strength in our moral muscles. Allow the praying hands gesture to open up and form a “BIG-V”. That shows how G-force grace opens up our souls to give and receive the power of God. The BIG-V shows we are open to let God fill us up with His goodness. The G-force is what turns our “small-v” virtues into BIG-V virtue SUPER-Powers. One more step is left in our virtue superpower gesture training.
Gesture #4: Superpower “V” Virtue: Reach for the Sky!
We can tell when everyday virtue has become a “superpower” in us when three things happen. First: we don’t have to work so hard to exercise Everyday Virtues. They really have become part of our everyday living. Second: we notice that this power is beyond our abilities, and we smile with gratitude because God’s strength is enabling us to be a virtue-hero. Third: we feel the genuine JOY of knowing and exercising virtue in spite of whatever circumstances we face. The gesture of both arms reaching for heaven to make the biggest “V” of all is to celebrate and thank God for building everyday virtue super powers us!
What are the Everyday Virtues™?
The Tiny Virtue Heroes™ each represent one of the 35 Everyday Virtues™. These virtues are grouped in five color-based “teams” with seven virtues in each group. These do not represent a fully exhaustive list of virtues. There are more virtues than the ones identified as the Everyday Virtues™. These terms have been selected as Everyday Virtues™ not only because of their essential value in helping us learn how to live a morally vibrant life, but also for the concreteness they express enabling young people to be intentional about exercising virtue in what they think and pray, do and say.
Everyday Virtue Team Yellow:
Humility: Knowing the value of littleness
Adaptability: Adjusting to change agreeably
Empathy: Sharing the feelings of another
Peacefulness: Internal restraint and calmness
Humor: Laughter with, not at, others
Courage: Action according to belief
Obedience: Following direction of rightful authority
Everyday Virtue Team Blue:
Inspiration: Energizing other’s enthusiasm
Trust: Confident reliance on God or others
Fortitude: Spiritual strength and stamina
Faith: Relying on God’s power
Faithfulness: Loyalty to keep promises
Acceptance: Saying “yes” to life as is
Resourcefulness: Creative problem solving
Everyday Virtue Team Silver:
Wisdom: Exercising good judgement
Charity: Love that motivates generosity
Integrity: Consistently seeking to do and be good
Hope: Belief in a good future with God
Justice: To lift up the lowly
Mercy: Compassionate forgiveness
Purity: Unselfish intention and action
Everyday Virtue Team Red:
Gratitude: Thankfulness & appreciation
Joyfulness: Gladness despite difficulty
Perseverance: Unwavering endurance
Modesty: “It’s not about me” selflessness
Cooperation: Sacrificing to work with another
Patience: To wait in spite of frustration
Respect: To honor the dignity of another
Everyday Virtue Team Green:
Kindness: Consideration to put others first
Honesty: Exercising authenticity & truth
Self-Discipline: Self-imposed obedience
Devotion: Ardent love, no matter what
Steadfastness: Staying power & dedication.
Prudence: Choosing the greatest good
Moderation: Avoiding extremes
How do you know virtue SUPER-Power training is working? Here are a couple examples of how it all works. It’s the difference between trying to be patient (“small-v” starter virtue) and being known as a patient person (Big “V” Virtue SUPER-Power). Or picture a moment when a child shows the virtue of gratitude and says, “Thank you.” to someone because he or she knows they are supposed to, or because a mom or teacher is watching. (small “v” starter virtue) Then perhaps another time a child goes when no-one is looking to say, “Thank you.” to someone because he or she really was grateful. Perhaps this child is showing appreciation for something that person had done...not even as a kindness for the child directly. That’s your Everyday Virtue SUPER-Power. The amazing part is that these SUPER-Powers come with JOY... a quiet, enduring, no-one-can-take-it holiness kind of joy that shows us, and everyone around us, a tiny glimpse of heaven.
Encourage your children and grandchildren to never forget. Super powers in a movie or a video are pretend.
Virtues are the REAL SUPER-Powers.
Virtues make us holy, and holiness makes us HEROES…forever!
Don’t be surprised if the children in your life want you to do these gestures with them again and again. That’s great! Repetition and habit is what cultivates the interior disposition we are trying to foster. Their tiny virtuous thoughts and little goodness gestures will energize their actions and strengthen their desire for holiness and virtue. The Holy Spirit will take it from there and SUPER-Power their life!
This article was written by Tiny Virtue Heroes™ creator, award-winning author and catechist, Cathy Gilmore. Connect with Cathy to plan interviews, virtual school visits, and events for teachers & grownups too! The first Tiny Virtue Heroes™ Children’s Book: A Mouse and A Miracle, will be available Summer 2020. Shop now for valuable Virtue Heroes products to inspire, motivate, and reward the young heroes in your life!