Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.
Fortitude (commonly known as “guts”) is the last of the cardinal virtues. The virtues are not listed with fortitude last by accident. Fortitude without Prudence gives us insane “courage” like the leaders of the idiotic Charge of the Light Brigade. Fortitude without Justice gives people evil strength to fly planes full of innocent people into buildings full of innocent people. Fortitude without Temperance nerves people to answer small offenses with insane and overwhelming punishment. But fortitude in union with these other virtues gives human beings the courage to face down overwhelming odds and, if necessary, die for a good cause. It was to fortitude that God called the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan. Today, in a world where evil is so evident, we are called to the same fortitude: a fortitude rooted in prudence, justice, and temperance and willing to soldier on in virtue till the work of God is done. Practice fortitude along with the other virtue and you will help make this happen.
