Live 4 The LORD

The proper order is for the lower faculties of our soul (our appetites and passions) to obey the higher (our reason and will) in submission to the will of God. However, when we sin, the opposite happens: our appetites and passions suppress the use of our reason, and our will turns away from God. This results in the powers of our soul becoming weaker and more disordered. 

Practicing the virtues is our way out of this weakness and disorder. We become more holy each time we choose to do the good and virtuous action in a particular instance when acting badly—or sinning—would be easier. In fact, the classical definition of virtue is “manly strength” of character. Just as muscles strengthen by enduring resistance, virtues strengthen by enduring trials and conflicts. 

As God told St. Catherine of Siena, “…a man proves his patience on his neighbor, when he receives injuries from him.” Once we understand that the virtues can only grow in us through conflict and overcoming the temptation to sin, we can readily see that God intentionally brings specific situations into our lives that are perfectly suited to help us grow in the virtues we most need to sanctify our soul. —Good Catholic Series, Thy Will Be Done