1. The Virtues of Fortitude and Temperance
Notre Dame Seminary
T2 Formation Conference

2. I. The Virtue of Fortitude
Definition
It is infused to strengthen the irascible appetite and the will so that the pursuit of the arduous good will not be abandoned even when faced with bodily harm or death.
the proper subject is the irascible appetite
as object it has to prevent unreasonable fear in the face of an evil that threatens
as object is also has to restrain one from unreasonably attacking an impending evil

3. Acts of Fortitude
attack
endure
it is more heroic and difficult to resist an enemy or suffer an evil than to attack an evil
Fortitude is especially manifested in unexpected events
Fortitude will be necessary, not only to achieve victory over the enemy, but also to endure the passive purgations sent by God

4. Vices Opposed to Fortitude
Defect
cowardice – refusal to suffer necessary hardships
Excess
fearlessness – insensitivity to fear
recklessness – disdain of prudent judgment

5. presupposes an advanced soul person is not envious
Magnanimity
Definition – a virtue which inclines one to perform some great and honorable act
presupposes an advanced soul
person is not envious
does not give himself to many actions, but few important and great actions

6. Vices opposed
presumption – attempts actions that are beyond one’s strength or ability
ambition – seeks honors which he does not merit
vainglory – seeks fame or popularity
pusillanimity – unreasonable lack of confidence in oneself

7. it is a virtue which should characterize the wealthy
Magnificence
Definition – inclines one to take on great projects without getting disheartened by magnitude of project or great expenses associated with it
differs from magnanimity in that it involves a material construction project
it is a virtue which should characterize the wealthy

8. Vices opposed
Meanness – holding back on the expenditure out of proportion to cost of project
Wastefulness – expenditure of money far in excess of what is required by project

9. Patience
Definition – enables one to bear sufferings without sadness and dejection.
many souls suffer but do not receive merit because they bear them without patience
to have merit, one must have proper manner of bearing and for the proper motives

10. Motives for patience
conformity to will of God
calling to mind the sufferings of Christ and Mary
reparation for our sins
co-operating with Christ to apply fruits of redemption (Col. 1:24)
eternity of happiness

11. Degrees of patience
resignation w/o complaining
peace and serenity w/o sadness
sweet acceptance for love of God
complete joy for association with sufferings of Christ
preferring suffering to pleasure (folly of the Cross)

12. impatience – manifesting itself by anger and complaining
Opposing Vices
impatience – manifesting itself by anger and complaining
insensibility (hardness of heart)
Longanimity
Definition – virtue which strengthens man to strive for a good which is temporally a long way off

13. distinction from the grace of final perseverance
Definition – inclines a person to continue in the practice of the good despite the difficulties associated with the continuance of the action
lifelong fidelity in the practice of any virtue requires the virtue of perseverance
distinction from the grace of final perseverance

14. Constancy
Definition – it is the virtue which strengthens the soul against some external obstacle. Perseverance is related, but it strengthens the soul in the face of fidelity for a long time
Opposing virtues to Constancy and perseverance
* inconstancy (effiminancy) – giving up the practice of a virtue as soon as a difficulty or obstacles presents itself
* pertinacity – obstinancy in the refusal to cease a given effort when right reason requires it

16. Means of Growth in Fortitude
Pray constantly for fortitude
Foresee difficulties which will be encountered along the path of virtue
Accept with generosity the little difficulties of daily life
Meditate frequently on the Passion of Christ
Intensify one’s love of God
Amor Christi urget nos!

17. II. The Gift of Fortitude
Definition
“...a supernatural habit which strengthens the soul for the practice, under the movement of the Holy Ghost, of every type of virtue, with invincible confidence of overcoming any dangers or difficulties that may arise” (Royo, 474).

18. As with all the gifts, the soul’s powers are elevated to a divine plane and the soul does not reason but acts by a kind of instinctive interior impulse from the Holy Spirit

19. One of the clearest distinctive characteristics of the operation of the Gift of Fortitude is the confidence of success the soul experiences
The Gift of Fortitude is often necessary for the preservation of the state of grace when the soul is besieged by a sudden and intense temptation.
The Gift of Fortitude purifies the virtue of fortitude by removing from it all traces of fear and indecisiveness

20. Effects of the Gift of Fortitude (Royo, 476-477)
gives soul relentless vigor in the practice of virtue
overcomes completely all lukewarmness in the service of God
soul is made fearless before every kind of danger or enemy

21. souls are enabled to suffer extreme pain with patience and joy
practice of the “folly of the Cross”
soul is given the quality of heroism in all things, great and small
Death by “pinpricks”
Vices Opposed to the Gift of Fortitude
timidity
sloth

22. Means of Progress
Fulfilling constantly our duties exactly despite the repugnance we may feel
To pray, not for the removal of our crosses, but for the strength to carry them
To practice voluntary mortification with fidelity
Fervent and frequent reception of Holy Communion for strength

23. III. The Virtue of Temperance
Temperance in Itself
Definition: “...a supernatural habit which moderates inclination to sense pleasures, especially those related to touch and taste, keeping them within the limits of reason enlightened by faith” (Royo, 482).

24. It resides in the concupiscible appetite and controls its movements
It is one of the most important virtues of the spiritual life in that it regulates the two most vehement instincts of human nature associated with the preservation of life: taste
touch, especially associated with sexual function

25. Opposed Vices
Excess
intemperance – surpassing the limits of reason concerning taste and touch
Defect
insensibility – avoiding even the legitimate pleasures necessary and associated with the preservation of life without right reason

26. Parts of Temperance
Integral Parts (integrate virtue and facilitate its exercise)
sense of shame
not so much a virtue as a passion or feeling
it causes us to fear the embarrassment or confusion which follows the performance of a base action
St. Thomas says that it belongs especially to the young who are only moderately virtuous as the wicked have no shame and those who are advanced aren’t inclined to any base action

27. sense of honor
an appreciation for the dignity and spiritual beauty associated with being temperate
Subjective parts (species)
Taste
Abstinence – moderate use of nourishment according to reason enlightened by faith
Proper act – fasting
Vice opposed – gluttony
Sobriety – moderate use of intoxicating drinks
Vice opposed – drunkenness

28. Touch
chastity – moderates the desire for venereal pleasures according to one’s state in life
purity – moderates external acts which prepare for sexual union
external acts vary with one’s particular state
vices opposed – lust
internal lust – thoughts, desires

29. internal lust – thoughts, desires
external lust – incomplete exterior acts
external lust – completed exterior acts
virginity – resolute will to preserve one’s integrity of body by abstaining from all voluntary venereal pleasure
true virginity must be ratified by a vow
perfect chastity is the preservation from deliberate venereal pleasure but not ratified by a vow

30. Potential Parts (related virtues)
continence – strengthens will in order to resist the disordered vehemence of the passions when they arise
perfect chastity differs from continence in that the former controls the passions in such a manner that such vehement passions do not arise
importance of resisting first movement of passion
vice opposed – incontinence

31. meekness – moderation of the passion of anger
meekness resides in the irascible appetite
anger is a passion and as such is amoral, neither good or bad
there is a tendency to allow anger to determine one’s actions and move beyond justice and charity
meekness enables an individual to use anger within the just limits of charity and justice, as manifested by Jesus in cleansing the Temple and during His Passion

32. Clemency – inclines the person in authority to mitigate a punishment according to right reason
motivated by kindness which does not neglect the demands of justice
opposed vices are cruelty, brutality, and excessive leniency

33. Modesty – inclines one to conduct his interior and exterior movements and mode of dress in accord with his proper state of life and position in society
modesty moderates the tendency of a person to promote one’s own excellence
this is combated with the virtue of humility (cf. handout on humility)
the vice opposed to humility is pride
modesty moderates the desire for knowledge

34. excessive or disordered desire for knowledge is combated by the virtue of studiousness
the vices opposed to studiousness are vain curiosity and sloth/negligence
modesty moderates bodily movements and actions
such are combated by modesty of action and eutrapalia
the vices opposed to eutrapalia are inordinate/excessive recreation and excessive austerity
modesty moderates the movements relating to dress

35. Helps to Get out of Pornography
Fall on your knees and beg God for help
Destroy all porn and purify home and work
Go to Confession
Daily Mass and Rosary
Avoid near occasion
Custody of Senses – know yourself; don’t be stupid!
Filter
Accountability software
Walk in Light - Tell Someone
Get Real! Get Unplugged!
Become Activist Against
Develop Plan of Life
Prayer
Work
Study
Exercise
Get a Greater Love – God and Friendships
Practice Stop, Drop, Roll
Break the Ritual
Work on Other Areas of Virtue, especially temperance
Find out what you are medicating & get to the root
Get Educated – Study!
Marinate in Word of God

36. IV. The Gift of Fear
As has been seen, the Gift of Fear is ordered primarily to the Virtue of Hope and secondarily to the virtue of Temperance.
The Gift of Fear helps man to avoid those things which are offensive to God and to which man is principally inclined by the flesh
God comes to man’s aid with the Gift of Fear in order that the pleasures of the senses can be perfectly controlled.

37. V. The Virtue of Humility
Definition: “It is a virtue derived from temperance which inclines an individual to restrain the inordinate desire for his own excellence, giving him a true evaluation of his smallness and misery before God” (Royo, 490).
humility resides in the irascible appetite even though it derives from temperance which resides in the concupiscible appetite

39. Basis of humility
The ultimate foundation of humility is a comparison of oneself with the infinite perfections of God
humility is thus closely connected with the theological virtues and the virtue of religion

40. Humility is based upon truth and justice
truth gives a knowledge of ourselves and recognition that anything good in us comes from God
justice requires that we give God all honor and glory for what is good in us

41. humility removes the obstacles and faith establishes contact with God
A Fundamental Virtue
It is not the most excellent, but it is fundamental in the negative sense of removing the obstacles to reception of grace
ut removens prohibens
humility removes the obstacles and faith establishes contact with God

42. Degrees of Virtue of Humility (cf. Royo pp. 492-493)
St. Benedict
fear of God and recognition of his precepts
not to desire to follow one’s own will
to subject oneself by obedience to a superior
patiently to embrace through obedience difficult and painful things
to recognize and confess one’s own defects
to believe and admit that one is unworthy and useless

43. to believe and admit that one is the most vile and wretched of all
to subject oneself in all things to the common life and to avoid singularity
not to speak without being addressed
to speak in few words and in a humble tone of voice
not to be easily disposed to laughter
to keep one’s eyes cast downward

44. St. Anselm
to acknowledge oneself as worthy of disdain
to grieve at one’s unworthiness because of one’s defect
to confess one’s unworthiness
to convince others of one’s unworthiness
to bear patiently that others say of us that we are unworthy
to allow oneself to be treated with contempt
to rejoice in being treated with contempt

45. St. Bernard
sufficient humility: to subject oneself to superiors and not prefer oneself to one’s equals
abundant humility: to subject oneself to one’s equals and not to prefer oneself to one’s inferiors
superabundant humility: to subject oneself to one’s inferiors

46. St. Ignatius
necessary humility: one humble himself as much as possible, so that in all things he obeys the law of God to point that even if he could become Lord of all creation he would never commit a mortal sin

47. perfect humility: one does not care to have riches rather than poverty, honor rather than dishonor, a long life rather than a short life, as long as one can serve God so faithfully that he would not commit a deliberate venial sin for all the world
most perfect humility: one prefers to be poor with Christ, to suffer opprobrium with Christ, and to be considered a fool with Christ, rather than to be wealthy or honored or considered wise by the world

48. The Vice of Pride
Definition: A disordered desire for one’s own excellence. It is the mother of all sins

49. Principal manifestations of pride (cf. Summa Theologica IIaIIae, Q
Principal manifestations of pride (cf. Summa Theologica IIaIIae, Q. 162, a. 4)
to think that one’s gifts and talents are from oneself
to believe that the gifts of God are due strictly to one’s own merits
to boast of possessing that which one does not have
to despise others and wish to appear the exclusive possessor of that which one has