[4] On the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, [5] beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; [6] by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in a holy spirit, in unfeigned love, [7] in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; [8] through glory and dishonor, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; [9] as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; [10] as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
(CCC 557) "When the days drew near for him to be taken up [Jesus] set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Lk 9:51; cf. Jn 13:1). By this decision he indicated that he was going up to Jerusalem prepared to die there. Three times he had announced his Passion and Resurrection; now, heading toward Jerusalem, Jesus says: "It cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem" (Lk 13:33; cf. Mk 8:31-33; 9:31-32; 10:32-34). (CCC 858) Jesus is the Father's Emissary. From the beginning of his ministry, he "called to him those whom he desired;… And he appointed twelve, whom also he named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach" (Mk 3:13-14). From then on, they would also be his "emissaries" (Greek apostoloi). In them, Christ continues his own mission: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (Jn 20:21; cf. 13:20; 17:18). The apostles' ministry is the continuation of his mission; Jesus said to the Twelve: "he who receives you receives me" (Mt 10:40; cf. Lk 10:16). (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).
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