Fortitude
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, “Fortitude is the
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the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations
and to overcome obstacles in the moral life.” (CCC 1808)
While fortitude is one of the cardinal virtues, it comes from on high. It
is listed as one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. A synonym for fortitude
might be “courage,” but that doesn’t really do it justice. Courage
has much to do with the physical world, but fortitude reaches into the
spiritual realm as well.
While some may see fortitude or courage as being an absence of fear,
that would be incorrect. Fortitude helps us to master our fears. From the
Catechism: “The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even
fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to
While fortitude can help us to overcome sin, it is a lack of fortitude that
may cause us to fall into sin. Thus, like all the virtues, fortitude, though
a gift, must be practiced. While the other virtues help to set our “moral
compass,” it is fortitude that allows us to always follow that compass and
do the right, even in the face of great obstacles and pain.
To end its section on fortitude, the Catechism quotes the words of Jesus
from John 16:33 – “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good
cheer, I have overcome the world.”
For further study:
CCC 1808