Pentecost Friday

The Gift Of Fortitude

Preparation. - The gift of fortitude, like that of the fear of God, perfects our will, by strengthening it, first, in the confidence requisite for acting, and secondly, in patience for suffering. Are we not weak and hesitating where there is an occasion for conquering and mortifying ourselves, overcoming temptations, and defying human respect? Let us, then, place our confidence in God and beseech Him to clothe us with His invincible power. "They that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength" (Is. 40. 31).

I. The Gift Of Fortitude Strengthens The Confidence Requisite For Acting.

Before ascending into heaven our Lord said to His disciples: "Stay you in the city, till you be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24. 49). By these words He promised them gifts which enabled them to set at defiance all the obstacles to the propagation of the Gospel, and to convert the world notwithstanding the opposition of men and demons. What precious effects does it not produce also in us! According to St. Gregory, it enables us to subdue the flesh, to resist lust, to despise the pleasures of life. How different from the natural energy of sinners, which helps them to gratify their passions and pervert souls! The good do not, as the wicked, rely on themselves, but they derive their strength from God through confidence and prayer. They exercise firmness, not with the desire of satisfying themselves, but to practice self-denial and fulfill their duties.

What is greater, says St. Gregory, than thus to subject to reason all the notions of the heart, to renounce one's tastes, judgment and will, to disdain earthly goods in order to seek heavenly treasures! According to St. Ambrose, is not he a true hero who knows how to conquer himself, to restrain his anger, to deprive himself of sensual gratification, not to be puffed up in honors, nor to be downcast in adversity? Always seeking to become better, with what tenacity, relying on God, he combats his defects, shuns all levity and effeminacy, restrains his impetuosity, controls his imagination and knows no rest till he has stifled in himself every obstacle to virtue.

But how different are those who lack the gift of fortitude! They are unable to conquer themselves, to restrain nature, their passions and evil habits; instead of leading an austere, mortified and laborious life, they idolize their health, are weak in temptation, and governed by human respect. The slaves of their notions and whims, they are attached to trifles, and discouraged at the slightest difficulty.

O my God, how my life is filled with acts of weakness and inconstancy! Even when mistrusting myself, I did not fully trust in Thee. Grant me an unwavering constancy in difficulties, so that I may overcome my despondency and secure perseverance in Thy holy love. "They that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength."

II. The Gift Of Fortitude Helps Us To Suffer.

The perfection of the gift of fortitude consists rather in suffering than in acting. Nature loves action but abhors suffering. Fortitude prevents fear from becoming timidity and cowardice. It changes a child into a giant, as happened to Jeremiah, whose weakness God encouraged by these words: "Be not afraid ... for behold I have made thee a fortified city, and a pillar of iron, and a wall of brass over all the land, to the kings of Juda, to the princes thereof, and to the priests and to the people of the land; and they shall fight against thee and shall not prevail, for I am with thee to deliver thee" (Jer. 1. 17, 18). And, in fact, how many persecutions had not the prophet to undergo during forty-five years, and his constancy was not shaken!

The same was the case of the martyrs. The example of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who displayed so much grandeur of soul amid the torments and insults of His Passion, encouraged them in their torture so greatly, as to make wonderful heroes of old men, children and weak women by their invincible patience. All who, like them, possess the gift of fortitude, are in the same dispositions. They await trials without uneasiness, accept them with submission, and bear them without discontent or dejection. Like the rock assailed by the tempest, the saints remained calm amid the waves of tribulation. They even have gone so far as to rejoice in suffering, to desire torments ardently and to endure them cheerfully.

Can we say with St. Paul: "I please myself in reproaches, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ"? (2 Cor. 12. 10). Instead of being firm and immovable like the rock, do we not rather resemble the frail bark tossed to and fro by the lightest breeze, even in danger of being wrecked? We know not how to bear the least word or contradiction, nor even the shadow of blame, reproach or admonition, and yet we at times envy the lot of the martyrs! Let us rather begin to strive to restrain our irritability, impatience, and to stifle our murmurs and complaints, to bear calmly being humbled, contradicted, rudely treated, and, in short, in being exercised by Providence in patience and fortitude, so necessary to practice mental prayer and acquire virtue.

O my God, almighty Spirit, do not permit me ever to become a weak and delicate member under a Head crowned with thorns. Through the intercession of Mary, so constant at the foot of the cross, make me strong, courageous, constant in affliction, humiliation and in bearing my neighbor's faults.