Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: Holy Stubbornness

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Holy Stubbornness - fortitude in the spiritual life

St Josemaria refers to not caring what other people think about you as “holy shamelessness” - not having any fear of shame from others because you are focused on God and His Will.

St Teresa of Avila has a similar concept called “holy audacity” - this brave and strong trust in God, a faith that cannot be shaken. A boldness before God who knows you and loves you,

Following these holy saints, Sr Ellen a friend of mine who is a Canonical Hermit, & I in our little chats on the eremitic life, often discuss “holy stubbornness” - the fortitude needed to preserve in the faith and your vocation, the strength that comes from the stubborn refusal to be despondent over your own weaknesses and flaws, but instead to continue to follow Christ no matter what. In the good and bad, the happy and sad - never giving up on Jesus, just as he does not give up on us. This is “holy stubbornness” 🙏

1808 Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. "The Lord is my strength and my song." (Ps 118:14) "In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Jn 16:33)

^{CCC 1808}

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Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.