FORTITUDE - A Franciscan Spiritual Review - Vol. IX No. 10 - October 1958

Sep 29, 2026

Monthly Franciscan spirituality review issue devoted to fortitude, presenting a meditation that interprets Job’s suffering as an eminently Christian model of resignation and endurance. It develops fortitude as both a general firmness in seeking moral good and a particular moral virtue as a habit of the will to overcome or tolerate obstacles. The text distinguishes natural fortitude from Christian supernaturalized fortitude, emphasizing divine grace as inner strength. It illustrates how courageously meeting temptations can coincide with prayerful resignation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

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Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

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Fortitude

The Strength of God Within Us

1959 城风户YGROVE COLLEGELIBRA限DETROIT,MICHIGAN A FRANCISCAN SPIRITUAL REVIEW A monthly magazine specifically devoted to Franciscan spirituality is publishedunder the sponsorsbip of the Franciscan Educational Conference by the FranciscanInstitute,St.Bonaventure University,St.Bonaventure P.O.,New York.Editor:Eligius Buytaert,O.F.M.,Assistant Editor:Sister Mary Frances,S.M.I.C.ManagingEditor:Innocent Daam,O.F.M.Editorial Board:Ignatius Brady,O.F.M.,ColumbanDuffy,O.F.M.,Allan Wolter,O.F.M.Annual subscription $2.00. Entered as second class matter on November 25,1950,at St.Bonaventure P.O.,New York,under,Act of March 3,1879.All communications,whether of a businessor a literary nature,should be addressed to The CORD,St.Bonaventure University,St.Bonaventure P.O.,New York.Cum permissu superiorum. VOL.IX,NO.10,OCTOBER,1958 CONTENTS FORTITUDE………………………289By Geoffrey G.Bridges,O.F.M. ST.FRANCIS,WORSHIPPER OF THE TRINITY……………… …295Fr.Willibroard Lampen,O.F.M. SUFFERING AND LIFE…………………………………306By Fr.Thomas Plassmann,O.F.M. NEWMAN’S USEOF THE WORD“FEELING.”………………………309By Fr.Benedict Leutenegger,O.F.M. THE 39th MEETING OF THE FRANCISCAN EDUCATIONALCONFERENCE………………………311 CONVENTUAL FRANCISCANS HOLD CONFERENCE …………………315QUERIES &REPLIES ..……………320 POEMS: Two Blessing:For Stephen by Raymond Roseliep…… …………305Four Meditations by Fr.Anaclete Yonick,O.F.M.………………310Salute to the Blesed Virgin From the Works of St.Francis.…………314 # Fortitude Geoffrey G.Bridges,O.F.M. The opening chapter of the Book of Job paints one of the mostpoignant pictures of suffering and abjection in all of human literature.Though Job lived before the time of Jesus Christ,still we must say,the spirit in which he bore his suffering is eminently Christian.Forthat reason I have chosen the story of Job as an illustration of ournext virtue,Fortitude. Job was weighed down with croses.He had the cross of physicalsuffering to bear—his body was covered with sores that dogs came tolick.He was burdened with interior crosses much harder to bear.Hisspirit was tried with the sudden removal of the joy of possession:8onsand daughters died,homes caved in,cattle were stolen,servants werekilled.And,salt in his wounds,his wife berated him and his friendsaccused him of great crimes;for no man ,they said,was the punishedby God unless he were a great sinner. But Job was a model of fortitude under each of these crosses.He uttered that perfect prayer of resignation:"The Lord gave andthe Lord has taken away;blessed be the name of the Lord.”(Job1,21)Our crosses are small in comparison to his;but it is the same virtueand the same spirit that we muct have,the spirit and virtue of Chris-tian fortitude. # The Strength of God Within Us In a vevry general sense,fortitude is a firmness or strength ofsoul in seeking moral good which is demanded in the practice ofany virtue.Due to the Fall and the eonsequent weakening of our will,virtue is truly laborious;hence fortitude in some degree is requiredfor every act of virtue.In this general sense,fortitude is not so mucha distinct virtue as a necessary condition for virtue. As a particular moral virtue,fortitude is a habit of the will in-clining it either to overcome or to tolerate obstacles which hinder usfrom attaining a desired good.Natural fortitude seeks and protectsnatural goods,such as health,reputation,friendship;the motive alsois natural;often it is nothing more than stoic pride,or an expression of independence,of self-sufficiency.But a Christian supernaturalizesthis naturalvirtue through the motive of love,he uplifts it accordingto faith that has been given him.The goods that a Christian pro-tects are the spiritual goods of the soul.The decision of what is to beovercome and what is to be tolerated he arrives at by means of Chris-tian prudence.In other words,Christian fortitude protects an infin-itely higher good for a nobler purpose;he is willing to suffer and en-dure more.The stoic is a good example of natural for

FAQs

Why is Job used as an illustration of fortitude?

Job’s suffering includes physical affliction, loss of possessions, and accusations. The meditation presents Job as a model because he bears these trials in a Christian spirit of resignation and steadfastness.

How does the text define fortitude in a general sense?

Fortitude is described as firmness or strength of soul seeking moral good required in practicing any virtue. In this broad sense, it functions as a necessary condition for virtue rather than a distinct virtue.

What distinguishes natural fortitude from Christian fortitude?

Natural fortitude seeks and protects natural goods with a motive that can be pride or self-sufficiency. Christian fortitude supernaturalizes this virtue through love and faith, protecting spiritual goods and relying on God’s strength.

Sep 29, 2026

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