What is Courage/Fortitude?

The Cardinal Virtue of Fortitude involves Courage in the face of difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. When we resist temptations, overcome our fears, face trials and challenges, or endure persecutions, we practice the virtue of Fortitude.

There are two aspects to Fortitude: the inner-focused, passive fortutide of our inner selves, and the outer-focused, active fortitude in the face of external trials and fears. To form Fortitude is to foster both.

There are many 'interior enemies' of ourselves within our minds: fears, anxieties, self-pity, a shame or guilt that paralyzes us instead of motivating us. This is the first way we must practice fortitude: when our minds and hearts are overcome with doubt and fear, presenting obstacles to our own flourishing, we must persevere in seeking the good regardless. Courage does not mean the absence of fear, but the virtue of pushing forward even in the face of fear, according to reason. The first victory of fortitude is in the mind and heart.

Life presents plenty of obstacles in addition to these interior ones. The trials and evils we face can seem overwhelming at times, or even unsolvable; this, too, is where Fortitude is necessary. By Fortitude, we persevere in the goods we are able to accomplish, even when facing seemingly undefeatable evils.

Fortitude takes the challenge of evil in the world seriously. It does not deny that it exists or succumb to it; it acknowledges our fear, pain, and suffering, but then chooses to reason about what is best and how to persevere in attaining it, in spite of such evils we may face. As such, this is a Cardinal Virtue, necessary for us to truly flourish.

How do we develop Courage/Fortitude?

Fortitude has its passive and active aspects: the former relating to our inner courage, which is developed through facing our fears, anxieties, and other internal blockers to pursue virtue; and the latter relating to our actions regarding the exterior trials and tribulations in life.

In both cases, the method for developing Fortitude is through many choices: from the smallest of choices, where we face our fears and choose to pursue reason's advice instead of fear's demands, building up to more life-defining courageous acts. As such, we will use the Reflection approach to developing Fortitude, reflecting on our previous encounters with fears, difficulties, and suffering, and considering how we can grow in our courage in facing such next time.