Tradition associates the gift of fortitude with the hunger and thirst for justice6 . "The lively desire to serve God in spite of all difficulties is precisely that hunger which the Lord arouses in us. He gives birth to it and listens to it, as it was said to Daniel: 'I am coming to instruct you, for you are a man of desire' (Dan 9:23) ". This gift produces in the soul docile to the Holy Spirit an ever-increasing eagerness for holiness, which does not waver in the face of obstacles and difficulties. St. Thomas says that we should strive for this holiness in such a way that "we never feel satisfied in this life, just as a miser never feels satisfied ".
The example of the saints impels us to grow more and more in fidelity to God in the midst of our obligations, loving him more the greater the difficulties we go through, giving more firmness to our desire for holiness, without letting discouragement take shape in the face of the possible lack of means in the apostolate, or perhaps when we experience that we do not advance, at least apparently, in the goals of improvement that we had set for ourselves.
The virtue of fortitude, perfected by the gift of the Holy Spirit, allows us to overcome the obstacles that, in one way or another, we will encounter on the road to holiness, but it does not suppress the weaknesses proper to human nature, the fear of danger, the fear of pain, of fatigue. The strong can have fear, but they overcome it thanks to love. Precisely because he loves, the Christian is capable of facing the greatest risks, even if his own sensitivity feels repugnance, not only at the beginning, but throughout the whole time that the trial lasts or the achievement of what he loves. Fortitude does not always avoid the weaknesses inherent in every created nature.
This virtue leads even to giving one's life voluntarily in witness to the faith, if the Lord so asks. Martyrdom is the supreme act of fortitude, and God has asked it of many of the faithful throughout the history of the Church. Martyrs have been - and are - the crown of the Church, and a further proof of her divine origin and holiness. Every Christian should be ready to give his life for Christ if circumstances demand it. The Holy Spirit would then give the strength and courage to face this supreme test. The ordinary thing will be, however, to expect from us heroism in the small things, in the daily fulfillment of our duties.
Every day we need the gift of fortitude, because every day we must exercise this virtue to overcome our own whims, selfishness and comfort. We should be firm in an environment that on many occasions will be contrary to the doctrine of Jesus Christ, to overcome human respects, to give a simple but eloquent testimony of the Lord, as did the Apostles.
Hablar con Dios