Virtues Of the year

Virtue of the 2026-2027 School Year: Justice
 
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 
2 Corinthians 3:17
 
What is Justice, and how can I practice it?
Justice is a cardinal virtue that enables one to give to each, beginning with God, what is due to him or her. Very often, we may equate justice with being fair or giving out consequences for wrong choices. While this may be a part of it, it is moreover about ordering our lives towards God, and choosing moral goodness for the sake of our community.
 
Justice, according to the Catechism, is the “moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor” (1807). When we practice Justice through our words and actions, we must ask ourselves: Did I give what is owed to God? Did I give what is owed to my family? Did I give what is owed to my classmates and teachers?  
 
In order to practice Justice, we should first acknowledge what true freedom is. Venerable (soon-to-be-Blessed) Fulton Sheen once said, “Freedom does not mean that right to do whatever we please, but rather to do as we ought.” True freedom is about choosing what is good for God, and for society. The opposite of freedom is slavery, and when we give in to our selfishness, we become a slave to our own sin. 
 
Sometimes, we may disagree with a rule given by a parent or a teacher, but when those expectations are just, we know deep down that it will be freeing to do what is right. This school year, let us try our best to keep God at the center of all that we do, and work on showing mercy and obedience to those around us. When we practice Justice in this way, we will experience the freedom of choosing and willing the good, and we will build up our community in love.