Easter 2026 - Reading #26 - Fortitude
Reading
Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical Veritatis Splendor, connects the gift of fortitude to the moral life: "The moral life requires a certain fortitude which, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, enables us to put the truth into practice. This fortitude is not mere human courage but a divine strength which supports us in our daily struggle to live according to the Gospel. The Spirit does not remove the difficulty of the moral life but gives us the power to face it."
John Paul continues: "The gift of the Holy Spirit does not exempt us from the duty of conscience but strengthens us to follow conscience even when it is costly. The martyrs are the supreme witnesses of this gift, men and women who chose death rather than betray the truth. But the gift operates also in the daily life of the faithful: in the fidelity of spouses, in the perseverance of parents, in the integrity of workers, in the courage of those who speak the truth in a culture of lies."
For John Paul, the gift of fortitude is thus not reserved for extreme situations but is active in every moment of moral decision where the right thing is also the difficult thing.
Reflection
Twenty-seven days into Easter, John Paul II grounds the gift of fortitude in everyday moral life. The martyrs are its supreme witnesses, yes, but the gift operates just as truly in the parent who keeps showing up, the spouse who keeps their vows, the worker who maintains integrity, the person who speaks truth when silence would be easier and safer.
John Paul's vision is deeply encouraging because it democratizes fortitude. You do not need to face a firing squad to exercise the Spirit's gift of strength. You need it at the kitchen table when the conversation is hard. You need it at the office when cutting corners would be rewarded. You need it in the quiet moments when no one is watching and the temptation to coast is overwhelming. In each of these moments, the gift of fortitude is available, a supernatural strength that supplements your natural will and enables you to choose the good when the good is costly.
As we close this fourth week, the gifts we have received are forming a recognizable shape. We stand in awe before God (fear of the Lord), relate to him as children to a Father (piety), see the world with supernatural clarity (knowledge), and now possess the strength to act on what we see (fortitude). The soul is being equipped, not for comfort but for mission. Next week, the gift of counsel will give us wisdom for the decisions ahead: the Spirit's own guidance for the concrete choices of daily life. We are being armed, as the original conception of this series promised. And the armament is nearly complete. Three gifts remain.