Thurs after Pentecost: Gift of Fortitude

Statue of Longinus by Gianlorenzo Bernini


Today, what is traditionally the Thursday after Pentecost, we move to a consideration of the fourth of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: the Gift of Fortitude.

The Catechism, referring to Isaiah, lists the Gifts thus: "The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord." (CCC1831)

St. Thomas Aquinas notes that fortitude, is among three of the gifts that belong especially to the "appetite," rather than directly to reason: "For, seeing that of the seven gifts...three [belong] to the appetite, viz. fortitude, piety and fear" (STh, I-II, q. 68, a. 1)


Of the Gift of Fortitude, the fourth listed, the Angelic Doctor says, "man's mind is moved by the Holy Ghost, in order that he may attain the end of each work begun, and avoid whatever perils may threaten. This surpasses human nature: for sometimes it is not in a man's power to attain the end of his work, or to avoid evils or dangers, since these may happen to overwhelm him in death. But the Holy Ghost works this in man, by bringing him to everlasting life, which is the end of all good deeds, and the release from all perils. A certain confidence of this is infused into the mind by the Holy Ghost Who expels any fear of the contrary. It is in this sense that fortitude is reckoned a gift of the Holy Ghost. " (STh, II-II, q. 139, a. 1)  Further, he mentions of this gift in his introduction to the gifts that, "The appetitive power... in matters touching himself, it is perfected by 'fortitude' against the fear of dangers." (STh, I-II, q. 68, a. 4)

John of St. Thomas adds that, "The gift of fortitude, however, clothes the virtue from above, so that God seems to cast aside human infirmity and apparently operates in the soul according to His own power....the virtue of fortitude differs from the gift of fortitude in the degree that human strength differs from divine. The virtue of fortitude is regulated in a human way prescribed by prudence, while the gift enjoys the full scope of the divine impulse and is moved by the power of God." (Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Ch. VI, 30 & 31)

St. Thomas Aquinas associates the Gift of Fortitude, rather obviously, with the cardinal virtue of the same name, Fortitude.  John of St. Thomas explains, in his Introduction to the Summa Theologiae, "Having explained the parts of fortitude, he treats of the gift corresponding to it, which is called the gift of fortitude, by which one is moved by the Holy Spirit to sustain or face certain arduous matters, which exceed human capacity, relying on divine help alone." (Commenting on STh, II-II, q. 139 of Aquinas)

St. Augustine of Hippo, in On the Sermon on the Mount, associates the Gift of Fortitude with one of the Beatitudes, explaining, "Fortitude corresponds to those hungering and thirsting: for they labour in earnestly desiring joy from things that are truly good, and in eagerly seeking to turn away their love from earthly and corporeal things: and of them it is here said, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." (Book I, chapter 4, 11)

St. Thomas explains this connection between beatitude and gift thus: "there is a certain congruity between them, because, as stated, fortitude is about difficult things. Now it is very difficult, not merely to do virtuous deeds, which receive the common designation of works of justice, but furthermore to do them with an unsatiable desire, which may be signified by hunger and thirst for justice." (STh, II-II, q. 139, a. 2)

John of St. Thomas associates the Beatitudes focused on justice and mercy with the active live; fitting, indeed, for the Gift of Fortitude: "The fourth and fifth beatitudes are ordained to the attainment of true beatitude through the works of the active life. The fourth beatitude is a thirst and hunger after justice -- a giving to each his due with a burning heart. The fifth beatitude, 'blessed are the merciful,' gives justice and mercy and alms to friends, neighbours, foreigners and enemies." (Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Ch. IX, 4)

On this Thursday after Pentecost, let us pray for the Gift of Fortitude, that we might have the strength to hunger and thirst after justice and righteousness -- that we might be marked by magnanimity!

Veni, Sancte Spiritus!  Live well!