The Attraction of Courage!

There is something about the virtue of courage that calls to my heart in a way that many other virtues do not. Why is that I wonder? Is it because our modern world overflows with cowardice, that so few are willing to defend the truth? Fr. John Hardon often urged parents to raise their children to be martyrs. "You do not remain faithful to the Savior without paying for it," he once said. 

Many of us aren't willing to pay the price and remain silent out of human respect. I remember an incident in my own life when my husband and I were at a Marine Corps event. The marine giving the talk repeatedly used God's name in vain. I was in his direct line of sight and thought, "I should make the sign of the cross when he does that in reparation." But I didn't. I was a coward, and to this day I regret it. He was a good man. I liked him and I expect, had I made the sign of the cross, he would have stopped. That would have been good for both him and myself. But I was a coward out of human respect.

Fr. Hardon's dictionary doesn't include an entry for courage, but it has one for the virtue of fortitude which is closely related as you can see:

As a virtue, [fortitude] is a steadiness of will in doing good in spite of difficulties faced in the performance of one's duty

There are two levels to the practice of fortitude: one is the suppression of inordinate fear and the other is the curbing of recklessness. The control of fear is the main role of fortitude. Hence the primary effect of fortitude is to keep unreasonable fears under control and not allow them to prevent one from doing what one's mind says should be done. But fortitude or courage also moderates rashness, which tends to lead the headstrong to excess in the face of difficulties and dangers. It is the special virtue of pioneers in any endeavor.

Father makes the distinction between the supernatural virtue and what he calls animal courage. Animals attack either from pain or anger. They don't act from choice. They aren't brave; they act from instinct. If we respond to a situation like that, for example road rage incidents, we illustrate, not virtue, but the deadly sin of anger. 

There's an incident in 2 Maccabees that shows the virtue of courage of the elderly scribe Eleazar:

The Martyrdom of Eleazar by Gustave Dore

Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh. 19But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.20And considering in what manner he was to come to it, patiently bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life.21But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded, of the flesh of the sacrifice:22That by so doing he might be delivered from death; and for the sake of their old friendship with the man, they did him this courtesy.23

But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient years, and the inbred honour of his grey head, and his good life and conversation from a child; and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather be sent into the other world.24For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens:25

And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a corruptible life, should be deceived, and hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon my old age.26For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the punishments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead.27Wherefore, by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew myself worthy of my old age:28And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a ready mind and constancy I suffer an honourable death, for the most venerable and most holy laws.

And having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.29And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, were changed to wrath for the words he had spoken, which they thought were uttered out of arrogancy.30But when be was now ready to die with the stripes, he groaned: and said: O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly that whereas I might be delivered from death, I suffer grievous pains in body: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear thee.31Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men, but also to the whole nation, the memory of his death, for an example of virtue and fortitude.

What's particularly enlightening here is the reaction of his "wicked friends." When Eleazar chooses God over men, his goodness shows their own cowardice, and so they respond, not with conversion, but with anger. The very existence of the good admonishes the evil. Eleazar didn't tell anyone else not to eat the meat, but his example was a rebuke to those who obeyed the earthly king rather than the King of Kings. Evil cannot tolerate good! Evil loves company. 

One of the greatest challenges to courage today occurs in the family. How many parents affirm their children's homosexuality including same-sex unions, celebrate the invalid marriages of their children outside the Church, even let their children shack up and fornicate in their own homes. One mother, a daily communicant, shocked me when she said she and her husband were celebrating the invalid wedding of their daughter at their home. She noticed my shock and said, "What am I supposed to do; alienate my daughter?" I didn't respond but the answer is, of course, "Would you rather alienate God?" Why should children come back to the Church when their parents bless their sins?

Of course we are called to love our children unconditionally. We were a shelter home for women in crisis pregnancies for about fifteen years. A few of them had been thrown out by their parents. I found that parental reaction sad. But you don't do children any favors by confirming them in their sin either. True love embraces and then admonishes. Jesus showed us the correct position with both the woman taken in adultery and the woman at the well. He treated them with respect and compassion, but told them to stop sinning. 

It takes courage to tell our children the truth and risk their estrangement. We know what happened to Jesus when He bore witness to the truth. He was rejected. We shouldn't be surprised when we experience the same thing. Nevertheless, with the help of the Holy Spirit and our guardian angels and patron saints we can do the will of the Father despite pain and suffering. Let us all pray for the courage to stay in the fight no matter the wounds and trust in God to bring about the victory.