Fortitude: Firmness of the Mind

This is Part 3 of a series of 4 talk outlines on the cardinal virtues

'I will take the Ring,' he said, 'though I do not know the way.'  
Elrond raised his eyes and looked at him, and Frodo felt his heart pierced by the sudden keenness of the glance. 'If I understand alright all that I have heard,' he said, 'I think this task is appointed for you, Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no one will.'  
- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Introduction

• Society has always admired and exalted people who have overcome great difficulties to achieve an ideal or goal
• Roselle Ambubuyug, blind student who graduated BS Math summa cum laude in Ateneo de Manila University
• Filipina pilot without hands
• Manny Pacquiao
• Martyrs
• Frodo and the quest to destroy the One Ring
• These are examples of the virtue of fortitude.

What is Fortitude?

• Fortitude is the capacity to pursue an ideal despite the difficulties
• Fortitude strengthens the will in its search for the good whatever obstacles a person may encounter
• Latin saying: "Militia est vita hominis super terram." 
• Man's life on earth is warfare. 
• We have enemies/obstacles before we could reach our goals
• What are these obstacles?
• From outside
• difficulties, challenges, delays: Irascible appetite
• From inside
• comfort, attractions, distractions: Concupiscible appetite

Fortitude on comfortable/attractive things (concupiscible appetite)

• We first tackle the obstacles from inside
• Man's life is warfare, and the more important war is the war within ourselves
• There is a need to conquer ourselves on things that could prevent, hamper, or delay us from reaching our goals
• I'm referring to laziness, love of comfort, hedonism, consumerism

• Availability of consumer goods and widespread comfort: defined by adjectives like "instant", "automatic",  "wireless", "pain-free", "unlimited"
• These are not bad in themselves, but if we are not careful, it could lead to hedonism, a practical materialism defined by
• Love for comfort and ease
• Horror for all renunciation and sacrifice

• In Physics, we know that everything, light, wave, matter, travels through the path of least resistance. 
• That's okay for them because they are material
• But we, on the other hand, are not solely composed of matter- we also have a soul.
• Thus, this should not necessarily apply to us. Because, as we will see below, the "resistance," or difficulties, could be something helpful for our development. 

• What will happen if we always say "Yes" to our cravings?
• We will be like marshmallows, soft, unable to stand to our principles
• We will be slaves to our own bodies

Fortitude on difficulties (irascible appetite)

• The Value of Difficulties
• Without pressure, carbon can't be formed into diamond
• Without chiseling, a block of marble can't be formed into the Pietà

• Sayings
• Spanish saying: "Todo lo que vale, cuesta." : Everything worthwhile will cost something
• Other sayings: "No guts, no glory", "No pain, no gain."

• All these points out to one thing: Worthwhile things require effort, constant, persevering effort, not once, or twice, but may times. 
• cf. athletes: runner, body builder

• Difficulties are like chisels which refine our rough character to make us better

• But we should also reject all forms of machismo- the vanity of a male animal:
• A machismo that thinks that the more one drinks, flirt, wreck havoc, the more manly he is.

How could we live Fortitude?

• It must be governed by prudence 
• First, one must see clearly what he has to do
• To face what we have to do, our responsibility
• "Don't succumb to that disease of character whose symptoms are inconstancy in everything, thoughtlessness in action and speech scatter-brained ideas: superficiality, in short."  - St.Josemaría Escrivá, The Way No.17

• Face the difficulties
• After seeing what you have to do, get ready to fulfill them
• Spanish has a special term for this: "reciedumbre"
• Without running away (escapism through drinking, movies, anime, games)
• "You say that you can't do more? Could it not be that... you can't do less?" - St.Josemaría Escrivá, The Way No.23

• Learn to say "No!"
• You will have friction with other people
• Fortitude demands that we refuse things which can lead us to sin
• Fortitude demands that we stand up for principles, for what is right
• G.K. Chesterton: 'A dead thing goes with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.'

• 4. Deny yourself
• Cold shower
• Getting out of bed
• Eat what is served
• Smile if you have a headache
• Bear the differences of character in the office or at home

Christian Fortitude

• We have discussed fortitude from a merely human point of view
• Virtues were not original Christian ideas, they were popularized by ancient Greek philosophers
• But the Christians have improved our understanding of the virtues, giving them a Christian tone
• St. Augustine : Fortitude is the love that bears everything for the sake of the object of one’s love 
• Thus, Christian fortitude is not just one borne of will power
• It's main source is love
• St.Augustine's quotation: "Love and do what you please."
• Amor vincit omnia: Love conquers all
• Amor suffert omnia:  Love endures all
• Since our highest goal is God, the ultimate object of our love, Christian fortitude enables us to endure all things, to suffer all things without sadness, with our heart firmly set on God
• Explanation for martyrdom and many other "crazy" things that people do for God
• We need natural fortitude to live our commitments to God
• Applications
• Fulfillment of our duties before God
• Prayer and the sacraments
• Doing good
• Bearing evil and hurts
• Defending the Church's principles