These four virtues are listed in the Catholic Bible in the Book of Wisdom 8:7. "Or if one loves justice, the fruits of her works are virtues; For she teaches moderation and prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing in life are more useful for men than these."
"The Latins, as represented by Cicero, repeated Plato and Aristotle: Each man should so conduct himself that fortitude appears in labors and dangers: temperance in foregoing pleasures: prudence in the choice between good and evil: justice in giving every person what is his. This is a departure from the idea prominent in Platonic justice and agrees with the Scholastic definition" (Catholic Encyclopedia).
The priest writer presents to the readers the trolley dilemma. The train has a broken brake. If you keep going, you'll kill five workers on the track. But if you change the direction of the track, only one worker dies. Change direction? In another case, you are with a large person on an overpass. Push the man and the train will stop and the five workers will not die. Would you push that man? Most say they wouldn't push because it's murder. But most would agree it is better to change the direction of the track and choose to kill one person. So, are you a righteous person? What matters is not the answer. It consists in 'contemplating' what is justice.
If you have been cultivating these four virtues you are a person seeking perfection. On the other hand, if you were a religious person and indifferent to the virtues it is highly likely you leaned toward a life that was only looking for blessings. Not 'wise' who search only for earthly things; not just who desire only selfish things; lack courage who are ashamed of living as believers in front of others; and without moderation living a life of excess. So, if you don't care about the virtues, even if you have faith, you are like a person who builds a house on sand.
What is natural law according to Catholics?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes it in the following way: "The natural law expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and the evil, the truth, and the lie: 'The natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man because it is the human reason'.
St.Paul in Romans 3:8 makes clear that "we don't do evil that good may come from it."
