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Return to main page Philosophy professor Don DeMarco from St. Jerome's College in Ontario, Canada, became closely acquainted with the Arlington Diocese during a three-day series of talks at four different churches.
The noted author and educator spoke Jan. 18 at St. Michael Church in Annandale; Jan. 19 at Holy Spirit Church, Annandale; Jan. 20 at St. Agnes Church, Arlington, and St. John Church, McLean.
His series of talks on virtue at St. Michael's was geared toward religious educators. The Holy Spirit and St. John addresses were to high school students. The St. Agnes talk was part of a larger symposium on natural law.
DeMarco is the author of 13 books, including How To Survive as a Catholic in a Parochial World, Character in a Time of Crisis, and his most recent from Ignatius Press, The Heart of Virtue.
He earned degrees from Stonehill College, the Gregorian University in Rome and St. John's University in New York. He specializes in bioethical and family issues and has been published widely in a number of magazines and periodicals.
DeMarco's first talk at St. Michael's was entitled, "Virtue Can Hurt You and Other Contemporary Myths." He debunked the commonly held popular assertions that "nice guys finish last" and "only the good die young."
The four fundamental moral (or cardinal) virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. They are the habits developed by a person through practice and are the controlling influence over all other virtues. The supernatural virtues are faith, hope and charity.
Meekness, which is related to temperance, "is an outstanding virtue," DeMarco said. "It gives us self-possession in the face of great pressure.
"With meekness, we can put up with a lot of nonsense," he said.
DeMarco said there are three great dangers to virtue: immediacy, expediency and simplicity.
Society today wants things right away, he said. There is a "simplicity barrier," which states you can only make things so simple before they lose their being.
"We try to make life so simple, that we distort it and it becomes perverse," he said. "We can't get through life without virtue."
DeMarco examined the popularity of William Bennett's Book of Virtues.
Millions of copies of this book have been sold to people who want to share these virtues with their children and grandchildren.
Bennett, to his credit, has generated a dialogue on the need for virtue. But to the secular mind, which values "expediency," Bennett has used virtue to become a millionaire. The "expediency" of virtue indicates that you can "get ahead" by using virtue.
DeMarco said some people think that morality changes from era to era and region to region. The ancient Greeks and Romans had great respect for virtue, he said, valuing courage above all others.
"Human blindness seems to change, rather than virtue or moral values," he said. "Virtue is a constant. Stealing has always been wrong, no matter what the century.
"Virtues are timeless and transcendent."
DeMarco examined two popular television shows — "Seinfeld" and "Cheers" — that use the "Seven Deadly Sins" (pride, envy, sloth, lust, greed, intemperance and anger) as a formula for success. Each show has seven central characters that exhibit one of the "Deadly Sins."
In "Cheers," Sam Malone lusted after every woman that entered the bar, while Norm Peterson's gluttony for beer was an ongoing joke. The boastful Cliff Clavin was full of pride. Carla was angry at everyone and Frazier exhibited jealousy. Rebecca hungered for power and money.
In "Seinfeld," the slothful Jerry Seinfeld is supposedly the show's "normal" character, but he is at the center of a modern tragedy, DeMarco said. "He takes no delight in anything spiritual."
An antidote to the Seven Deadly Sins can be found in the Seven Sacraments and the Eight Beatitudes, DeMarco said.
"We need virtue and grace," he said. "Without virtue, we are no longer human. We become like animals.
"Virtue is the way we express love in certain situations," DeMarco said.
"We need virtue to direct love from its source in the human heart to other people.
"We shouldn't envy someone who is good," he said. "Virtue is something that should be enjoyed."