The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Fortitude
“Though the path is plain and smooth for men of good will, he who walks it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty, if he does not have good feet: that is, courage and a persevering spirit” (St. John of the Cross).
Note from the editor: This article is part of a series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Read the articles about knowledge, counsel, understanding, fear of the Lord, piety, and wisdom.
Courage. Perseverance. Fortitude.
Before I started writing this article, I thought I had a general understanding of what fortitude is and how this gift of the Holy Spirit works within our lives. However, I quickly realized that my understanding of fortitude and the gifts of the Holy Spirit have stayed at the high school, “the Sacrament of Confirmation is graduation from the Church” level.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit go so much deeper than this basic understanding. They sustain our Christian life and are virtues that make us receptive to the Holy Spirit (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1830).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines fortitude as “firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good” (1837). This definition seems radically different than what I first heard in my Confirmation classes. It seems more direct and more difficult to live out. It is more than a large courageous act; rather, it is the small, everyday action of choosing what is right and good that will lead us closer to Jesus.
Our Hearts Are Made for God
Our hearts are first filled with the Holy Spirit at our Baptism. Confirmation increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit and gives us special strength to spread and defend the faith, according to this video from the Sophia Institute for Teachers. The special graces that the Holy Spirit gives us seals and armors us to “go … and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). We bear the seal of Jesus Christ to be a witness, and the gifts enable us to be ever more Christ-like.
According to Susan Timoney, a professor of pastoral studies at Catholic University of America, fortitude enables us to intimate Christ by helping us cultivate a strong mind to choose what is right and good. This gift gives us the inner strength to have the courage to do the right thing and, sometimes, to explain why we are choosing to do what is right and hard. The gift of fortitude helps us see that all of seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are connected: To know what is the right and good thing, we need the gift of knowledge. To stand firm, we need to know who we are, and the gift of counsel enables us to learn who we are by seeking God’s plan for our life.
Fortitude Gives Us the Internal Desire for the Right Thing
We want to walk our life growing closer to the heart of God. We want that deep and profound intimacy with God that gave Mary, the Mother of God, the courage to say “yes,” the intimacy found in the Garden of Gethsemane and that at the crucifixion led Jesus to cry out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:45). To have this level of intimacy with the Father, we need to stretch our heart and cultivate the gift of fortitude in our day-to-day lives:
Spend Time in Prayer
Commit to daily prayer, even if it’s just five minutes in the morning, on your way to work, or while running errands.
Go to Adoration
The Lord is waiting for you. He wants you to come and just be with him, even if it is only for a few minutes. He will meet you where you are.
Frequent the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist
Our hearts and souls need God’s abounding mercy and grace.
With each small prayer, time in Adoration, and reception of a sacrament, we are cultivating a strong mind to know and do what is good. Each time we say “yes” to prayer, we are growing closer to God and becoming more Christ-like. Every small, day-to-day “yes” will give us the inner strength to have the courage to stand firm in what is right.
Let us live out the gift of fortitude with each small “yes,” to have a persevering spirit that is walking in deeper intimacy with our Father.
Alexandra (Alex) Harrel resides in Irving, Texas. She is a new student affairs professional within the world of higher education. In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time outdoors. Her favorite prayer is Hail, Holy Queen. You can follow her on Instagram at @2012alexandra.