Fortitude – Africa International University

Allow me, from the mentorship department, to encourage you to hold onto FORTITUDE especially at this quite difficult time to any student on the globe. The following are some of the areas where, especially AIU, students are really getting pressed hard against the wall of life:

Leaning new ways of learning (remote learning)
Getting the technology/Laptops/Phone etc to remotely learn
Getting the means i.e. bundles/internet: Some cannot access good internet signals even if they afford it, some are in war zone areas and settling down for a study is not easy
Getting ample time: Several students are engaged in home chores e.g. attending to cattle, farm work etc. and some parents do not understand what this remote teaching is all about…. Balancing work and studies are becoming difficult each day
Lack of Money… this is becoming rare and rare every day and the student is really suffering

Therefore, these among other challenges are instilling fear in us to a greater extent. We need to be encouraged to embrace fortitude amid all these challenges and taking them in positively. They are now part of our New Normal.

What is fortitude

It is the virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in pursuit of the good. The third cardinal virtue, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, is fortitude. While this virtue is commonly called courage, it is different from what we think of as courage today. Fortitude allows us to overcome fear and to remain steady in our will in the face of obstacles. However, it is always reasoned and reasonable, meaning, the person exercising fortitude does not seek danger for danger’s sake. Prudence and justice are the virtues through which we decide what needs to be done; fortitude gives us the strength to do it.

Fortitude is the only one of the cardinal virtues that is also a gift of the Holy Spirit, allowing us to rise above our natural fears in defence of what is right. Fortitude strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles. It is often called manliness or courage. The virtue of fortitude enables one to:

Conquer fear, even fear of death.
Face trials and persecutions.

Fortitude strengthens the will to face up to difficult situations and overcome obstacles in accordance with right reason.

Acts of Fortitude.

Fortitude inspires the will so that it can choose the difficult good without being affected by the emotions of fear and daring.
Its acts take care of restraining fear and moderating daring of someone who either does not fear the dangers that he could and should fear (indifference), or rejects the verdict of prudence when facing danger that he could and should fear, when facing danger thoughtlessly (recklessness).
Therefore, the acts characteristic of fortitude consists in resisting and attacking. The main act of fortitude, therefore, is to resist, i.e. remaining strong in the face of danger.

Fortitude in Ordinary life.

There are many manifestations of fortitude in ordinary life. E.g.

Making demands on ourselves at work, reading, study, pastimes. We are naturally created risk averse and lazy. However, encouraging ourselves to read for instance remotely even where we feel exhausted is a sign of fostering fortitude.
Not complaining about working, studying and other inconveniences. We are now receiving assignments left right and centre and we ae feeling exhausted and tired. These coupled up with home chores and the earlier mentioned challenges are highly stretching us. We however need fortitude. Brace on.
Determination in front of difficulties, without giving in to tranquility, comfort, fatigue.
Fortitude is necessary to conquer fear to fulfil those duties that are hard
To resist peer pressure. Etc.

An important aspect of this virtue is the interior strength that helps to fight more frequent obstacles like shyness, cowardice, impatience, vanity laziness, etc. We can always build it. It is possible especially this Covid-19 season. Furthermore:

Fortitude also enables one to speak of God without fear,
To correct those that work badly honestly,
To demand on others to fulfil their duties where they are meant to.
To have initiatives and making the effort to put them into practice
For those in positions of responsibility, fortitude and prudence helps them to defend the spirit and rules of the organization in which they work. You are now part of these remote studies. Let us keep that spirit a is. Let us grow it. Let is spread wide for our own good, the good of AIU and the good of God our maker.

Student, we wish you all the best in your lessons and we wish you well in your forthcoming examinations. Do not fear. Have courage. This is part of life and to serve God in all that we do, we MUST do THIS.