Fortitude: Not just white-knuckling it!

Lord Jesus, with You I can do all things. If anything today seems difficult, embarrassing, or unpopular, yet I know that it is the right thing to do, please give me the grace and strength to do it, no matter the cost.  Amen.

This prayer from the newly-released Virtue Field Guide captures the meaning of this cardinal or moral virtue. The virtue of fortitude aims to perfect our emotions in the face of difficult situations, particularly the emotions of fear and anger.

Fear can come in many kinds: fear of suffering, of being judged, of being alone, or of not completing a task on time. Anger is varied, too. These are emotions or feelings we can all experience as we face the reality of daily life.

The blessing of living the Christian life is that we know we are never alone when these feelings seem to overwhelm us. God in His infinite love for us has created us and gifted us and is always with us. It doesn’t mean we have an exterior shield to protect us. Our inner strength comes from our interior life and the place where we find rest in Him. In sum, we don’t have to white knuckle it through life by depending upon ourselves.

I encourage you to pray the short prayer above and ask God to increase the virtue of fortitude in your heart.