Integrity

The virtue of the month for Conquest and Challenge in February is integrity. Our society considers an integrated person to be one who has got it all or is very well rounded-  educated, talented, successful, self-assured.  But integrity truly does not mean a well rounded person. It is much more than that.

Integrity is defined as “the adherence to moral principles. Congruence in thought, spoken word, and deed. Honesty or trustworthiness.”  It comes from the Latin word integrare, which means  to make whole; to present something in its entirety.

Integrity is the virtue of practicing what one preaches. Or more importantly, practicing what  is right. A ‘person of principle’ is not a person who understands a principle, but rather one who understands, accepts, and lives by a principle. To understand  principles or what is right, and not act by them, is destructive to yourself and usually to other people. Integrity can be seen as a very human virtue, but it is also a Christian virtue. Knowing our faith and beliefs is part of this virtue and living by them. People with integrity are truly more happy, at peace with themselves and God.