In the Roman Rite, bishops extend their hands over confirmandi, praying that they will be given “a spirit of right judgment and courage.”
This invocation echoes countless passages of sacred Scripture extolling the virtue of courage. “Be strong and courageous in your hearts, all you who place your hope in the Lord,” says Psalm 31:25. “I have given you a command. Be strong and brave, do not be afraid nor dismayed. I, the Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you go,” the Lord says in Joshua 1:9. Courage is also a frequent watchword of Christ: “Take courage! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
The virtue of courage is intimately linked with that of fortitude roughly understood as courage in action and is shown by the person who makes a choice to place his trust in God, not in circumstance.
©LPi