Fortitude comes next, which is necessary in temptation, since
perfection of sanctity cannot be so uninterruptedly maintained in
this life that its serenity will be disturbed by no temptations. But
as our Lord God seems to us, in times when everything appears
peaceful and tranquil, to be merciful and loving and the giver of
joy, thus when he exposes us either to the temptations of the flesh,
or to the suggestions of demons, or when he afflicts us with the
troubles, or wears us out with the persecutions of this world, he
seems, as it were, a hard and angry master. And happy is he who
becomes valiant in this his anger, now resisting, now fighting, now
flying, so as to be found neither infirm through consenting, nor
weak through despairing. Therefore, brethren, whoever is not found
valiant in his anger cannot exult in his glory. If we have passed
through fire and water, so that neither did the fire consume us, nor
the water drown us, whose is the glory? Is it ours, so that we
should exult in it as if it belonged to us? God forbid! How many
exult, brethren, when they are praised by men, taking the glory of
the gifts of God as if it were their own and not exulting in the
honor of Christ, who, while they seek that which is their own and
not the things of Jesus Christ, both lose that which is their own
and do not gain that which is Christ's! He then exults in Christ's
glory, who seeks not his glory but Christ's, and he understands
that, in ourselves, there is nothing of which we can boast, since we
have nothing that is our own. And this is the way in which, in
individual men, the City of Confusion is overthrown, when chastity
expels luxury, fortitude overthrows temptations, humility excludes
vanity. Furthermore, we have sanctification from the faith and
sacraments of Christ, fortitude from the love of Christ, exultation
in the hope of the promises of Christ. Let us each do what we can,
that faith may sanctify us, love strengthen us, and hope make us
joyful in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be honor and glory forever
and forever. Amen.