Men's Rosary

It is easy not to bring the Holy Spirit into prayer.  Jesus and God the Father are always there but the Holy Spirit not as much.  This is totally missing out on many graces.  God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Why only lean on two-thirds of God?  It is not wise to do but I do it, and I would surmise that most of us do.

We can avail ourselves of the gifts of the Holy Spirit by having a  relationship with him.  One of the greatest gifts would be fortitude.  In all the trials we face, all the doubts we may have, the struggles with our prayer life, what better help than the gift of fortitude?  God is always with us, so therefore the Holy Spirit is with us always.  “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  (Joshua 1:9)  It is with confidence that we can live and thrive with the graces of the Holy Spirit.  Fortitude is the grace to face all trials or obstacles to our faith and overcome them.  It is the strength and confidence to speak of our faith in God and the salvation we receive through Christ without fear of consequences.  Fortitude is what will keep our minds and hearts focused on the eternal life promised us.  “Beloved, do not be surprised by the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Chist’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”   (1 Peter 4:12-13)

This gift will help in all aspects of life, especially if we make our entire life an offering to God.  In our work, recreation, study, prayer, everything!  Consecrating our day to God and our work to his glory and the good of others will open up the graces of the Holy Spirit and the gift of fortitude will see us through anything.  When we feel as though we have failed, when things do not go our way, when hit with financial setbacks, when struggling through decisions, when dealing with family issues, when mourning loss of loved ones and all the other surprises of life, the gift of fortitude will keep us strong and invincible in our quest for our home in heaven.  “But the Lord helps me;  therefore I have not been disgraced;  therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know I shall not be put to shame.”     (Isaiah 50:7)

It is right to be steadfast in our faith.  It is right to profess our faith and share Christ with others.  It is only right to let nothing come between us and God.  We may risk losing ranking among men of this world, but we are not of this world.  We will face the rougher roads that are less traveled, but we were never promised an easy way.  Yet with fortitude we will save our soul and help others do the same.  “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give for return of his soul?”  (Mark 8:36-37)

“Fortitude is the disposition of the soul which enables us to despise all inconveniences and the loss of things not in our power.”  (St. Augustine)