St. Cyprian of Carthage left us an axiomatic list of sixteen virtues he wanted hung on the walls of churches but primarily in the hearts of Christians. Each describes a particular virtue:
1. Humility in life (in being and action)
2. Unshakable courage in faith
3. Modesty and discernment in our spoken words and other expressions of our thoughts and feelings
4. All actions must be righteous and true
5. Mercy must govern interactions with others
6. To constantly improve one's way of life
7. To never insult another
8. To patiently endure all insults
9. To live with everyone in peace
10. To love God with one's whole heart
11. To love God, for He is our Father
12. To fear God, for He is God
13. Never to compare Jesus Christ with anyone else (i.e., with no other reasoning, free beings, either human or angelic)
14. To unite with Him in love of heart
15. To be attentive to His glorious Cross, passion, and death; to worship Him with fear, repenting of our sins with hope that His Cross will redeem us
16. In conversations with others concerning the most holy name and dignity of Christ our Savior, to be firm and constant in all that concerns the confession of our faith. To answer all questions concerning our faith firmly, with no trepidation, as the absolute truth. In the hour of our death, to have unshakable courage, through which we will deserve the crown of Christ's confessors. This means that we must live as true sons and daughters of God, as co-inheritors of Christ, that is, to follow the commandment to fulfill in all things the will of the Heavenly Father.
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