Virtues in general must act with that firmness which fortitude bestows (II-II, Q, cxxiii). 1808 Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. Let us pray. The Catechism teaches that, “Fortitude is the mortal virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. Jesus, grant me fortitude, that all forms of fear and anxiety may be overcome by the cultivation of both the infused gift of Your Holy Spirit and the acquired virtue that leads me through Your refining fire with encouragement and fidelity. But this virtue is not about physical strength, it is about the strength of will, the strength of character, and strength against fear. Fortitude is firmness of spirit, especially in difficulty. It has in the battle two acts, which are: to assail and to sustain until death the conquered territory. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. Fortitude goes beyond having the strength and courage to take up one’s cross. It goes forward rather than backward, wages offensive and defensive war. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. This combination of moral strength and courage and endurance is what makes this virtue so important. Fortitude comes from the Latin word, fortis, which means strength. The word fortitude comes from the Latin word fortis, which means strength. Fortitude is the third among the cardinal virtues. The Fathers of the Church sometimes exchanged the word fortitude with courage when listing the four cardinal virtues. It is taking up one’s cross daily. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. Lucas can be for us a model of the virtue of fortitude. Fortitude is the virtue that moderates the emotions of fear and daring in accordance with right reason. Sitting in a bathtub full of deadly snakes, or jumping from one speedboat to another, are acts of daring, not acts of fortitude. Physical courage is one important dimension of the virtue of fortitude. Virtues stemming from fortitude include magnanimity, which inclines a person to perform great works in every virtue; munificence, which inclines a person to perform great physical works; patience, which inclines a person to endure present evils; and perseverance, which inclines a person to continue steadfastly in the pursuit of virtue. Fortitude is a willingness to freely go beyond the call of duty, to make sacrifices, to act on your convictions. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The English words fort and fortification come from this same root and mean stronghold or place of strength. It is what, as Christians, we must always have in mind in order to make our actions acceptable for eternal life. These worksheets are best used in conjunction with the Educator’s Guide and virtue cards to teach your students about the related virtues of fortitude. 1808 Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. Courage and endurance — it’s this great com­bi­na­tion that is summed up in the virtue of fortitude. Magnanimity and magnificence, patience and perseverance are at her service. It provides for constancy in the pursuit of virtue. (4) Fortitude as one of the gifts from the Holy Ghost is a supernatural virtue, and passes beyond the Aristotelian range. Fortitude . It is not, as some are wont to believe, extraordinary daring. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. Simple one-page worksheets for each of the virtues related to the cardinal virtue of fortitude. A “military” virtue. 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