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man struggle to do good: divine. United with the divine love, it no lon-
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am car- ger loves in a lowly manner, with its natural
nal, sold under sin. I do not understand my own strength, but with the strength and purity of the
actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do Holy Spirit; and thus the will does not operate
the very thing I hate….I can will what is right, humanly in relation to God. (Dark Night, II.4.2)
but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I The Christian therapist seeks to help train the
want, but the evil I do not want is what I do…. client in the practice of sustained concentration
So then, I of myself serve the law of God with on that which is good, in the discipline of per-
my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sonal asceticism, and in the exercise of habits of
sin. (Romans 7:14-15, 18-19, 25, RSV) will in love of God and neighbor, recognizing
Recognizing that doing good ultimately re- the pervasive need for divine assistance.
quires the grace of God—appealing to natural
law, the golden rule, and the need for strength Form character. Psychology has had an ambiva-
beyond ourselves (implicitly or explicitly as lent relationship with the concept of character.
possible within a given situation)—the Christi- Allport (1937), often considered the father of
an therapist seeks to help the client to develop personality theory, wrote that “character is per-
and practice good habits of behavior. sonality evaluated, and personality is character
devaluated,” concluding that “character is an
Exercise will. Corresponding to the exteriori- unnecessary concept for psychology” and that
ty of human action is the interiority of human “personality alone will serve” (p. 52). Peterson
agency, of personal choice, with regard to where and Seligman (2004), founders of the positive
we direct our attention and what we will to do. psychology movement, recognized the need “to
The preeminent early American psychologist, reclaim the study of character and virtue as le-
William James (1892/2001), recognized that gitimate topics of psychological inquiry” (p. 3).
“the essential achievement of the will, in short, The Christian tradition has long recognized the
when it is most ‘voluntary,’ is to attend to a diffi- importance of human formation in character
cult object and hold it fast before the mind” (p. and virtue:
317). Will is thus a “mental drama” of sustained Human virtues are firm attitudes, stable dis-
“effort of attention” involving a “fiat” (yes) or positions, habitual perfections of intellect and
“consent to the idea’s undivided presence” un- will that govern our actions, order our passions,
til it “fills the mind” (pp. 317-320). Augustine and guide our conduct according to reason and
(398/1991) recognized that there may be a con- faith. They make possible ease, self-mastery,
flict of wills within us: and joy in leading a morally good life. The vir-
The new will, which was beginning to be within tuous man is he who freely practices the good.
me…was not yet strong enough to conquer my (CCC, n. 1804)
older will, which had the strength of old habit. Wojtyła (1974/2013) advocated a personalistic
So my two wills, one old, the other new, one approach to aretology, to understand how the
carnal, the other spiritual, were in conflict with gift of the person may be realized through par-
one another, and their discord robbed my soul ticular virtues and ruined through particular
of all concentration. (Confessions, VIII.v.10) vices (p. 284). Human virtues, which may be de-
Strengthening of the will under duress may veloped through human effort, include the four
be facilitated by the practice of personal asce- cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude,
ticism: “Progress in virtue, knowledge of the and temperance (CCC, n. 1805). Theological
good, and ascesis enhance the mastery of the virtues, given as gifts from God, include faith,
will over its acts” (CCC, n. 1734). John of the hope, and charity (CCC, n. 1813). The Christi-
Cross (1585/1991b) recognized the distress and an therapist seeks to promote the formation of
afflictions of the human will and the ultimate character and virtue through education and en-
need for purification of the will through grace couragement of human effort and openness to
to love as God loves: divine grace.
And my will departed from itself and became

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