25 May 2012: 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 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, Our Mother “... find out for yourself by personal experience the meaning of Mary’s maternal love. It is not enough just to know she is our Mother; and to think and to talk about her as such. She is your Mother and you are her son. She loves you as if you were her only child in this world. Treat her accordingly; tell her about everything that happens to you, honor her and love her. No one will do it for you or as well as you ...” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 293) Let us offer our Mother: “Affectionate thoughts and prayers eg, ‘Mary, my Mother’ when we pause at work.” Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p312 Mary, the most perfumed lily of purity Purity is gone in our immoral and depraved world. Pornography, X-rated films; radio and television programs, [Internet] present the daily ‘poisoned food’ of our minds. The devil’s time, trying to convince souls that nudity is art and not sin; that nothing is immoral. Since the fall of Adam, the senses have been rebellious to reason. Of all the virtues, chastity has been the most difficult to practise. St Augustine rightly says: ‘Of all the combats in which we are engaged, the most severe are those of chastity; its battles are of daily occurrence, but victory is rare.’ Who will save the world from this pernicious evil? Mary, the most pure! St Albert the Great wrote “... ‘Mary’ (is) called the Virgin of virgins; for she, without the counsel or example of others, was the first who offered her virginity to God.” ‘Mary is a most pure lily, and’, as St Ambrose writes, ‘a heavenly vessel’. Mary is purity itself: her heart was so pure and bright that it attracted the gaze of the Lord and made Him decide to choose her as His Mother. St Ephrem: ‘O inviolate, all pure and chaste Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Queen of the universe, hope of the desperate ... more sublime than the Angels.’ The word ‘purity’ means purity of mind, heart, word, deed; purity of body and soul. This virtue is essential; impurity is among the prime causes of damnation. Purity, a rare and heroic virtue, is very difficult to practise. The devil and the world fiercely oppose it. But purity will make us happy; it gives us peace, joy, honor, a good reputation, sanctity, beauty, grace, a long life, and a serene death. Being a delicate virtue, we must be continuously vigilant over the mind, the heart, the eyes, the hearing, and the whole person. We should incessantly pray to Mary and put ourselves under her protective mantle; and pray for God’s protection. Ref: Cf Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p34 • “Notre Dame de la Blanche” (The White Lady) In the church named after her, in Faverney, France was the site of a Eucharistic Miracle on this day in 1608. (Approved by the Archbishop on 10 July 1608.) (Bob and Penny Lord, “Miracles of the Eucharist”, II:160-3, 168) • Our Lady the New Jerusalem, at Jerusalem; church built by the Emperor Justinian, in the year 530. — Procopius, de Edific. imperatoris Justiniani. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; /www.bethlehemobserver.com); • Our Lady of the New Jerusalem. Built by Emperor Justinian. Jerusalem, Israel. 530. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of the New Jerusalem (530). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of the New Jerusalem. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); 24 - O Lady Help of Christians (Australia, 1844). (http://mariedenazareth.com) • Our Lady of the Blesed Sacrament. (Carmel of St Therese of The Child Jesus, Diamond Jubilee Calendar, 2002)