Hey there,
Welcome to the beginning of the second year of Genuflect!
It’s hard to believe that Genuflect turned one year old on August 18. I’m excited about the growth Genuflect has undergone in the past year and what the future holds for year two and beyond. You can read more about that here.
We’ve already covered two of our Catholic virtues: prudence and humility. This week focuses on one of the other cardinal virtues: fortitude.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“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.”
Unfortunately, difficulties are a part of life.
Death of a loved one. Chronic illness. Loss of a job. Broken marriage. Substance abuse. The list goes on and on.
But no matter what the obstacle is, the Lord has given us fortitude to call on to endure the hardship. We need only to trust in Him.
So this week’s issue of Genuflect looks deeper into what fortitude is, how to build more fortitude, the relationship between fortitude and gratitude, using fortitude for various challenges we encounter in life, and teaching children how to be courageous.
And thank you for being here as Genuflect begins year two of its journey!
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Editor, Genuflect
P. S. Check out today’s latest Catholic news on Genuflect.net.
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genuflect: resources
Fortitude: The Virtue of Courage And Toughness
Fortitude. Do you see yourself as courageous or cowardly? Are you strong in facing pain or soft and shrink from it? On the other hand, are you reckless or foolhardy, putting yourself in situations you should not be in, doing things that you rightly ought to be afraid of? Can we be full human beings or can we really live our Catholic faith without fortitude?
The Six Parts of Fortitude
Interestingly, fortitude isn’t exclusively courage, as many of us were taught when we memorized the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit for our Confirmation preparation classes. There are actually, according to Thomistic scholars, six sub-virtues, or parts, that comprise the totality of fortitude.
Fortifying The Virtue of Fortitude
Is fortifying fortitude an exercise In redundancy? Here’s why it is not redundant when it comes to the Holy Spirit’s gift.
How Gratitude Builds Fortitude During The Storms of Life
Cancer. Autoimmune Disease. Chronic Illness. Death. Financial problems. Divorce. Relationship problems. Our journey as humans doesn’t always come with rainbows and puppy kisses. The rough patches are inevitable. But they don’t have to be disastrous. Did you know that practicing gratitude helps to build your fortitude? Science even proves it! Read on to learn how gratitude builds fortitude during the storms of life. It’s a must-have for your coping arsenal.
Endurance to Defend The Faith
It can be tiring to continue to defend your beliefs, explain the Church’s teachings, and to live in our world amidst such questioning, negativity, and even hatred. Here’s how Saint Paul can be our inspiration.
Facing Life’s Challenges With Fortitude
As they recited vows on their wedding day, Jessica and Paul Sosso did not know what life held in store for them. They weren’t worried about the future because Christ was part of their marriage and a shared Faith gave them fortitude to meet any obstacle.
Fortitude: The Determination to Become Happy
In our lives many situations arise in which it becomes difficult to do the right thing, even when we know what it is. In order to stay strong, to do what is good, we need the third cardinal virtue, known alternately as fortitude, courage, or bravery. This is the virtue by which we do the right thing, even in the midst of hardship.
Anointing of The Sick
The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, especially near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments one will receive.
The Best Gift We Can Give: Praying For Your Teens
In day to day ministry, it is remarkably easy to become swept up by the immediate problems we, or our teens, face. We look for what can be solved, fixed, corrected, and taken care of right away. The best way to avoid this trap and see teens as more than just names to memorize, and problems to solve is to pray for them, bringing them to the Lord, each and every day. Here are a few “best practices” in praying for your teens.
How to Teach a Child to be Brave
The virtue of bravery ultimately comes down to not the absence of fear, but the fortitude to persevere in the face of fear. Here’s how to teach your kids by actions — rather than words — how to be brave.
7 Saints Who Persevered
Sometimes, in life, we face uphill battles. Even if we feel called by God to do something great, it might seem to be an impossible task. Fortunately, we can look to the saints for inspiration. Although all saints have persevered in living a holy life and being amazing examples of how to love and serve God, many of them also faced those uphill battles. Here are seven saints who persevered in the face of adversity.
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Photo by Jordan Donaldson | @jordi.d on Unsplash
