Fortitude
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for Yahweh your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
Fortitude, as we all know, is not only a gift of the Holy Spirit, but also one of the four cardinal virtues. It is the disposition of a person to do what is good, even at the cost of any sacrifice.
Now, if fortitude exists as a gift or a virtue, that presupposes that we as human beings are vulnerable, that by nature we are weak and defenseless. Yet, with God’s grace, we can overcome our fears and weaknesses.
Many times, people mistakenly think that someone possesses fortitude simply because they can endure great pain or suffering. Yet, fortitude is only considered a virtue when it is linked to the desire for justice—that is, the desire to be holy and pleasing to God. Fortitude is not recklessness nor is it a love of danger; rather, it is something that frees us from clinging to life so much that we lose it by failing to do what is right. It means putting God first, even at the cost of ourselves. Difficulty and effort do not encompass the virtue; instead, it is the good that one seeks that fuels it. Having fortitude is not the same as having no fear; it means not allowing fear to lead us to refuse to do God’s will and thereby act wrongly.
Other things that are confused with fortitude include anger; the person with fortitude is not the one who attacks, but the one who endures. Selfishness and an unhealthy craving for security and overprotection are also contrary to this virtue.
As with every cardinal virtue, fortitude gives rise to other qualities or attributes, such as patience—that is, the ability to keep calm and clear-sighted despite the wounds suffered for having done what is good. Through patience, we remain master of ourselves and in possession of our souls.
Another virtue that stems from fortitude is trust: the hope that God’s providence will always be present and that, in the end, He will reward us.
Of course, there can be no fortitude without love, for it is love that drives a person to do good – without giving in – even when threatened with the risk of injury or death.
As we can see, fortitude is synonymous with martyrdom. Let us ask all those who gave their lives for Christ to obtain for us the grace to be strong and steadfast in our daily battles.
Mother María Elena Martínez is a nun, born in Mexico City, where she still resides today. She has had a consecrated life for more than 30 years. She is currently a member of a community called María Madre del Amor which is dedicated to evangelization through Emmaus retreats in parishes and prisons and Sicar retreats for young people.
