I’ve read and watched many videos of men who were awarded the Medal of Honor. One common thread to all their stories is they all say they are not heroic, they simply did what had to be done. They did what they were trained to do, for their brothers.
Pope Benedict XIV, describes heroicity: “In order to be heroic a Christian virtue must enable its owner to perform virtuous actions with uncommon promptitude, ease, and pleasure, from supernatural motives and without human reasoning, with self-abnegation and full control over his natural inclinations.”
An heroic virtue, then, is a habit of good conduct that has become a second nature, a new motive power stronger than all corresponding inborn inclinations, capable of rendering easy a series of acts each of which, for the ordinary man, would be beset with very great, if not insurmountable, difficulties. It is something the soul does because it does. He doesn’t consider his actions as extraordinary, it simply is, like breath and the beating of the heart. The soul doesn’t think, “I must be virtuously chaste or humble”, he just is chaste and humble.
Now, the trick is getting to this nature. How does the soul become heroic? I’d say the soul does this the same as a soldier or Marine, practice and practice and more practice.
Chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility. The seven cardinal virtues are given wide berth in today’s world and by too many Catholics in the pews. The 7 deadly sins are much more easily and comfortably sought.
But, to become a hero of Heaven, aka a saint, the soul must overcome the world (these 7 sins) that pervade and learn to live Heavenly virtue naturally.
“Courage, My son, courage.” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 597
A Navy SEAL starts in the icy surf along a beach, persevering when others quit.
If the soul fails and falls, get up, tell the devil to go away, and turn back to the virtue. The fall doesn’t show failure if the souls turns back to the virtuous practice. The fall shows more that the soul is still in the fight. Like mercy, the more times the soul seeks to fall back upon it, the easier it will get.
So, turn to the Holy Spirit today to start lessons. Ask Him, “Come Holy Spirit come imbue within my soul the virtue of chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, humility. Come Holy Spirit”
Continue your lessons and practice to learn to live these virtues. Continue to turn and re-turn to the Holy Spirit for grace and wisdom to live the virtues.
Do this, and someday, you will be surprised to stand before the Father, hearing those desired words, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). And He will award you with the most grand medal of heroism, the medal of a saint.
“You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” Isaiah 62:3