HUMILITAS
"You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) Humilitas means to live with “a spirit of complete humility, of complete gentleness, full of zeal and union with God, among ourselves and with every kind of neighbor.” Humility is not so much to realize our smallness, but rather to realize our greatness when we consent to and cooperate with God and God’s will. Humility is also our willingness to recognize the gifts of others and collaborate with them. Then, together, the greatest good can be realized. (From Jean Pierre Medaille, SJ, Founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet).
CARITAS
"Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." (Luke 12:48) Caritas is the richest kind of love, the kind of love that is possible only if it is God’s love living in and through us. Like God's covenant, Love is not transactional or bounded: it is compassionate, merciful, non-violent, unconditional, boundless, and everlasting, despite opposition or persecution. God's divine love guides us toward, in turn, loving our neighbors with empathy, solidarity, service, and justice. (Inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet).
SCIENTIA
"Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her . . . " (Wisdom 7:7-8). Scientia is the combination of intellectual understanding with life experience, living life’s highs and lows. Knowledge empowers the believer. To truly know something is to act upon that knowledge. Through a liberal-arts education, knowledge helps us find the truth, strive for justice while acting with mercy, and ultimately build a better world in the service of God and one another. (Inspired by the SSND’s dedication to teaching).
VIRTUS
"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8) Virtus is the firm and habitual disposition to do good. Not only do we pursue the good, but we consistently give the best of ourselves. Virtue is to know what is good, to appreciate what is good, and to choose to do what is good, even if that is difficult and unpopular. And what is “good?” Human life and dignity, health, family, friendship, community, knowledge, truth, justice, care for creation, peace. (Inspired by the School Sisters of Notre Dame).