FORTITUDE: GIFT OR VIRTUE? 

QUESTION:

IS THE virtue of fortitude different than the Holy Spirit's gift of fortitude?

ANSWER:

WITH RESPECT to fortitude, the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH says this:

FORTITUDE: ONE of the four cardinal moral virtues which ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in doing the good. Fortitude (sometimes called strength, courage, or might) is also one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.  [CCC p. 880]

I would add that for the Christian who cultivates the virtue of fortitude in his life, he receives the gift of quiet, patient endurance when he suffers loss--as all persons must suffer who live in this broken world--of good persons and good things.

MEANING AND GRACE

FORTITUDE HELPS to bind the faithful Christian to the cross of Golgotha, in the sense that he unites his sufferings with those of Christ--crucified ("My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" [Mk 15:34]) and risen ("Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" [Acts 9:4]). In the shadow of the cross, the believer invites the Spirit of God to endow his suffering with meaning and grace:

BUT IF we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.  [Rom 8:25-28]