Charity

Charity is the virtue of putting others before ourselves.

Goal: We should all seek to love one another as Jesus has loved us, placing other's needs before our very own. In sports this means learning to care about those around us, even our competitors. Treat each person we meet not only how we would want to be treated ourselves, but moreover how Jesus Christ would treat them if He were present.

"Perfect love means putting up with other people's shortcomings, feeling no surprise at their weaknesses, finding encouragement even in the slightest evidence of good qualities in them." —St. Therese of Lisieux

Honesty

Honesty is the virtue of being conformed and dedicated to the Truth.

Goal: We should all seek to be men and women dedicated to the Truth, the truth of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. This is a truth that exists outside of our own human mind, a truth that we get the grace of participating in every time we read sacred scripture or participate in the sacred mysteries.

"For this was I born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." —Jn 18:37b

"No one is truly poor but except the one who lacks the truth." —St. Ephraem the Syrian

Humility

Humility is the virtue of being aware that God is the author of all good, and the realization that we are not God.

Goal: We should seek to give credit to God who is the source of all that is good and seek to do all things for the greater glory of God, rather than taking credit for His handiwork.

"Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped." —Phil 2:5-6

"All this reverence that is paid me I never take to myself, but simply pass it all on to God." —St. Francis of Assisi

Meekness

Meekness is the virtue of submitting to will of others out of respect and deference for their dignity as a person.

Goal: We should all seek the good in those around us, looking to affirm and honor them for the good of who they are, submitting ourselves to their will, rather than living for the estimation of our brothers and sisters. We are not to be self serving, but rather be the better person by being forgiving and gracious to others

"Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory, rather humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for own interests, but also everyone for those of others." —Phil 2:3-4

Moderation

Moderation, also known as temperance, is the virtue of being in control of our passions and having self-mastery.

Goal: We should all seek to be in control of our whole lives at all times. Our passions do not have power over us; we instead have power over them. We should have the ability to tell ourselves "No" and be in control of our appetites for the things of this world and the simple pleasures of life.

"Do not follow your lusts, but restrain your base desires. If you allow yourself to satisfy your desires, this will make you the laughing-stock of your enemies. Do not indulge in luxurious living, nor get involved in such society." —Sirach 18:30-32

"Everything is lawful for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is lawful for me, but I will not let myself be dominated by anything." —1 Cor 6:12

"It is impossible to engage in spiritual conflict unless the appetite has first been subdued." —Pope St. Gregory the Great

Purity

Purity, also known as chastity, is the virtue of being clean in mind and body, as well as modest in our dress and speech.

Goal: We should all seek to be in control of our sexuality. We are not to deny our human sexuality, but rather embrace it, accept it, and integrate it into our very person through the use of temperance. True chastity requires diligence and discipline, always being on guard against temptations of the flesh, so that we may truly love, cherish, treasure, and honor others as we should.

"Avoid Immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, and that you are not your own?" —1 Cor 6:18-19

"He who aspires the grace of God must be pure, with a heart as innocent as a child's. Purity of heart is to God like a perfume, sweet and agreeable." —St. Nicolas of Flue

Good-Sportsmanship

Good-Sportsmanship is the virtue of treating others with dignity and respect in sporting events; winning with graciousness and loosing with dignity and honor.

Goal: We should all seek to compete to the best of our ability, treating ourselves, our fellow teammates, and our competitors with dignity and honor. Our behavior should reflect at all times that of Christ and our demeanor speak to the value of healthy competition. Instead of looking for the easy way to win or resort to cheating, being a good sport means that there are no short cuts to victory. Victory takes hard work and discipline. We should compete to the best of our ability, and hope to beat our competitors at their best. Good-Sportsmanship draws people together in the spirit of healthy competition and in the end the two are better for having competed.

"Compete well for the faith." —1 Tim 1:12a

"I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith." —2 Tim 4:7

"Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadow-boxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." —1 Cor 9:25-27

"All for God and for His Glory. In whatever you do, think of the Glory of God as your main goal." —St. John Bosco