20 May 2011: The Gift of Fortitude

Our Lord promises the Apostles, the pillars of the Church, that they will be “clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49). The Paraclete assists the Church and each of her members until the end of time.

The supernatural virtue of fortitude, God’s direct help, is absolutely necessary for Christians to fight and overcome the obstacles in their interior battle to love God more every day and fulfil their duties.

The virtue of fortitude is perfected by the gift of fortitude, which makes the acts of the virtue fast and easy to perform. We can say with St Paul: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)

Under the action of the Holy Spirit, the Christian feels capable of the most difficult actions and bearing the hardest trials for love of God. The soul, moved by this gift, does not trust its own strength; aware of its own weakness and inability to carry out the task of its sanctification and the mission which God entrusts to it.

Especially in difficult moments, it hears God’s voice: “I will be with you”; and dares reply: “If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? ... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...

“No, in all these we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (cf Rom 8:31-9) These words are a cry of fortitude and of optimism based on God.

If we allow the Paraclete to possess our lives, our confidence will be unlimited. We will truly understand that He chooses what is weak, low and despised in the world “... so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (cf 1 Cor 1:27-9). He asks his children only to place all at his disposal so that he may do wonders of grace and of mercy.

In the soul that is docile to the Holy Spirit this gift produces an ever greater desire for holiness that never wavers amidst obstacles and difficulties. St Thomas says we must desire holiness such that “in this life we are never satisfied, as a miser is never satisfied” (“Commentary on St Matthew”, 5, 2).

This virtue can bring one to willingly offer his life in witness to the faith if our Lord so desires. God has demanded martyrdom, the supreme act of fortitude, of many of the faithful throughout the Church’s history. Usually, though, what is asked of us is heroism in the daily fulfilment of our ordinary duties.

Every day we need the gift of fortitude, because daily we must practise the virtue of fortitude in order to overcome our whims, selfishness and laziness. We must not waver in an environment often hostile to Christ’s doctrine, so as to overcome human respect and give witness as the Apostles did.

The gift of fortitude sees difficulties as challenges. “Trees that grow in shady and sheltered places, while externally healthy, become soft and yielding, easily damaged by anything; whereas trees that grow on the tops of very high mountains, buffeted by strong winds and constantly exposed to all types of weather, agitated by storms and frequently covered by snow, become stronger than iron.” (St John Chrysostom, “Homily on the glory of tribulation”)

This gift is obtained through humility, having recourse to God in prayer and the sacraments. The sacrament of Confirmation gave us the strength to fight as soldiers of Christ. (cf 2 Tim 2:3) The Holy Eucharist, “food for our strength”, (cf St Augustine, “Confessions”, 7, 10) restores our energies.

The sacrament of Penance fortifies us against sin and temptation. In the sacrament of Anointing [of the Sick; formerly, Extreme Unction] our Lord gives us his help to conquer in the final battle, in which our eternal destiny is decided.

A sweet and wise Master, the Holy Spirit is also demanding; doesn’t give his gifts unless we are ready to take up our Cross and correspond to his graces.

Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:567-72

` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `

Mary’s Hope -- “Our Lady, a full participant in the work of our salvation, follows in the footsteps of her Son: the poverty of Bethlehem, the everyday work of a hidden life in Nazareth, the manifestation of his divinity in Cana of Galilee, the tortures of his passion, the divine sacrifice on the cross, the eternal blessedness of paradise.

“All of this affects us directly, because this supernatural itinerary is the way we are to follow. Mary shows us that we can walk this path with confidence. She has preceded us on the way of imitating Christ; her glorification is the firm hope of our own salvation. For these reasons we call her ‘our hope, cause of our joy’.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 176)

Let us offer our Mother: ‘A smile when we do not feel like smiling.’

Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, pp310-11

· “Let the Rosary, this simple beautiful method of prayer enriched with many indulgences, be habitually recited by all and in every home. These are my last words to you, the memorial I leave behind me.” -- Pope Pius IX

· “The Rosary is the Creed turned into prayer.” -- Cardinal John Henry Newman

· “This simple and profound prayer, the Rosary, teaches us to make Christ the principle and end, not only of Marian devotions, but of our entire life.” -- Pope Paul VI

· “The sum total of the love of all mothers for their children can never equal the love of Mary for only one soul.” -- St Alphonsus Liguori

Ref: In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, pp57, 56, 55,18

• Dedication of the church of “La Ferté”, in the diocese of Chalons in Burgundy, in honor of Our Lady. This abbey, the eldest daughter of Citeaux, was founded in the year 1113 by Savaric and William, Counts of Chalons. — Ex Archiviis Abbatis Firmitatis. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Dedication of the Church of “La Ferté” in honor of Mary. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Dedication of the Church of “La Ferte” in honor of Mary. Burgundy, France 1113. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Dedication of the Church of “La Ferté”, Burgundy, in honor of Our Lady (1113). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• Church of “La Ferté” dedicated to Mary. Burgundy, France. 1113. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)