382. What is fortitude?
(Comp 382) Fortitude assures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit
of the good. It reaches even to the ability of possibly sacrificing one’s own
life for a just cause.
“In brief”
(CCC 1837)
Fortitude ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the
good.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 1808)
Fortitude is the moral virtue that
ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It
strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the
moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of
death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce
and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. "The Lord is my
strength and my song" (Ps 118:14). "In the world you have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33).
Reflection
(CCC 2848) "Lead us not into temptation" implies a
decision of the heart: "For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.... No one can serve two
masters" (Mt 6:21, 24). "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk
by the Spirit" (Gal 5:25). In this assent to the Holy Spirit the Father
gives us strength. "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to
man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength,
but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, so that you may be
able to endure it" (1 Cor 10:13). (CCC 2473) Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith:
it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ
who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the
truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act
of fortitude. "Let me become the food of the beasts, through whom it will
be given me to reach God" (St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Rom. 4, 1: SCh 10, 110).
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