PODCAST | Be Ready!: The Virtue of Fortitude
[ Transcript ]
Continuing our Advent series: In this week’s podcast, Fr. Javier reflects on the virtue of fortitude, which allows us to overcome difficulties when we need to achieve the good. When confronted by evil and suffering in the world, or challenges in our daily lives, we can easily lose our peace and sense of reason. But, as Fr. Javier explains, it is possible to coexist with pain and suffering and not lose our sense of reason when we seek and grow in the virtue of fortitude.
Fr. Javier reflects on the reality that, “suffering is not something we look for; but when it comes, we certainly want what it takes in order to not get bogged down by it.” For this reason, we must look to the virtue of fortitude, and to the Holy Spirit, to be able to do things that go beyond our strength and overcome difficulties with courage.
Download the companion to the series to go deeper and enrich your prayer throughout the week:
Rev. Javier del Castillo
Fr. Javier del Castillo is a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei and currently serves as President of the St. Josemaria Institute. He earned a degree in electronic engineering and moved to Rome to complete his ecclesiastical studies, where he was ordained a priest in 2005 and earned a doctorate in Philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in 2007. He worked as a chaplain in high schools in the Washington, D.C. and Chicago areas for several years, offering spiritual accompaniment to students, parents, and teachers. From 2015 on, he served as the vicar of Opus Dei in the midwest; he was appointed regional vicar of the United States in 2022. He became vicar of the United States and Canada in 2024, following the restructuring of the regions, until his appointment as Vicar General in April 2025.
