WE NEED THE SPIRIT OF FORTITUDE AND WISDOM

⏰Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter (01 June 2017 – Memorial of St. Justin)

????Acts 22:30, 23:6-11; Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 (R.v.1); John 17:20-26

As we continue to pray for the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, let us pray for the gift of fortitude and wisdom.

Fortitude is one of the four cardinal virtues and it enables one who receives it to be calm and steadfast even in the face of oppression and persecution. This calmness and steadfastness is governed by a fear of God and complete trust in his omnipotence. This is the virtue that gives courage to the martyrs to lay down their lives for their faith in Christ.

Wisdom, on the other hand, is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit which disposes the recipients to be docile in following divine inspiration.

Most of the apostles possessed the above gift and virtue. St Paul manifested them when he appeared before the Sanhedrin for his trial (cf. Acts 22:30-23:11). His actions and utterances before the Sanhedrin show that he trusts firmly the Lord who told us to be of good cheer even in the face of tribulation, because he has conquered the world (cf. John 16:33).

St. Justin also possessed them, which enabled him to defend the Christian faith through his writings even to the point of shedding his blood.

We equally need them if we will work to cooperate with Jesus in bringing all his children to be one in faith and love.

May we be well disposed to receive Holy Spirit into our heart and be transformed by his transforming power. Amen.

I wish you a courageous and focused day with the Lord. Peace be with you.