The document discusses the virtue of fortitude. It begins by introducing fortitude as the virtue of the month for March 2012. It then discusses what human life is about, noting that it is a quest for the supreme good and about willing the good and learning to love. Love requires virtue, and virtues like fortitude are needed to overcome life's difficulties. Fortitude disposes us to do what is good despite hardship. The document suggests fortitude is important today given hedonism and a culture that avoids sacrifice. It provides examples of practicing fortitude in daily life and quotes from St. Josemaria on persevering through challenges. In closing, it quotes Nelson Mandela on overcoming fear and shining one's light.

1. STUDENT ASSEMBLY
March 2012

2. FORTITUDE
Virtue of the Month
March 2012

3. VIRTUE
OF THE
MONTH
An Emotionally Healthy Life
F
O REASON
R
T
I
T WILL
U
D
E
Passions

4. VIRTUE
OF THE UN
An Emotionally Healthy Life
MONTH
F
O REASON
R
T
I
T WILL
U
D
E
Passions

5. VIRTUE
OF THE
MONTH
An Emotionally Healthy Life
F
O REASON
R
T
I
T WILL
U
D
E
Passions
Hope, Despair,
Fear, Daring

6. What is Human Life about?
• Human life is a quest for the
Supreme Good.
• A good human life is about
willing the good.
• Human life is about learning to Love.

7. What is Human Life about?
• Love is difficult to achieve.
• Love is channeled through virtue.
• Virtue is difficult.
• Virtues are needed to overcome the
difficulties.

8. FORTITUDE
The virtue that disposes us to do what
is good in spite of any difficulty.

9. FORTITUDE
Fortitude is the love that bears
everything for the sake of the object of
our love.

10. How important is Fortitude
today?
HEDONISM
The love for comfort, for pleasure,
for anything that is easy.

11. How important is Fortitude
today?
HEDONISM

12. How important is Fortitude
today?
The Culture of D.e.a.t.h.
D ivorce
E uthanasia
A bortion
T otal Fertility Control
H omosexual Union

13. How important is Fortitude
today?
The typical hedonist today does not aspire to
anything larger and higher, but settles for
"feeling good". Such a life does not require
fortitude.
But a truly meaningful life, one whose meaning
(direction) is determined in regards to man's
true end — which is the knowledge and love of
the greatest good — does indeed require a host
of virtues belonging to fortitude.

14. The Christian Life
Sacrifice
for the
object of
our love.

15. FORTITUDE

16. FORTITUDE

17. St. Josemaria says…
Don’t get lost in great thoughts of
heroism. Stick to daily realities, seek
perfection in ordinary work.
There God awaits us.
There we can tell him “yes” each
day. And our response should truly
be heroic, by striving to outdo
ourselves, by not putting any limits.

18. VIRTUE
OF THE
How to practice fortitude
MONTH in daily life
F
• to sleep and get up from bed on time;
O
• to do the household work and job
R
T
assignments well without
I
complaining;
T • to study for two hours straight
U without the radio or TV on;
D • to write the assignment properly
E
without hurry;

19. VIRTUE
OF THE
How to practice fortitude
MONTH in daily life
F • to review one’s notes for the subjects for
O the day whether the teacher announced a
R quiz or not.
T • to smile when you don’t feel like it;
I • to correct a person whom you have
T observed to be doing something wrong;
U • to be attentive in class;
D • to practice some norms of piety punctually.
E

20. St. Josemaria says…
The person with fortitude is one who
perseveres in doing what his
conscience tells him he ought to. He
does not measure the value of a task
exclusively by the benefit he derives
from it, but rather by the service he
renders to others. The strong man will
at times suffer, but he stands firm, he
may be driven to tears, but he will
brush this aside. When difficulties
come thick and fast, he does not bend.

21. VIRTUE
OF THE
How to practice fortitude
MONTH in ordinary life
F • Stand up for what is right.
O • Revisit your goals and commit yourself to their
R fulfilment.
T • Let go of people or things that separate you
I
from God.
T
• Do not be afraid to know yourself and make
yourself known.
U
• Be demanding but at the same time patient with
D
yourself.
E
• Be conscious of acts of services you can render
to the others.

22. As quoted by Nelson Mandela
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest
fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not
our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who
am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who
are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small
doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about
shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to
make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in
some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence
automatically liberates others.

23. F OVirtueT I TMonthD E
R of the U
March 2012