• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Fortitude: The word of the year

March 12, 2021
By Robyn Barberry
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, Coronavirus, Unconditional

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

On March 14, 2020, I left my classroom at Archbishop Curley High School thinking I’d be back in two weeks. This coronavirus was gaining international attention and the authorities thought it would be a good idea for us to quarantine for a short time to slow the spread of the virus. Three months later, I returned to my classroom to gather up my personal effects, wondering if and when I’d ever return. 

Entering my classroom for the first time after three months was like stepping into a time capsule. Everything was frozen in time. Students’ names were on the board as they had signed up for research paper conferences we’d never have. I had scribbled some barely legible instructions on the board, emphasizing the fact that they needed to check in with me every day. Only a few of them did.

The thing that stuck out to me the most was the letterboard I used to hold in the hallway every day between classes to share the “word of the day.” Most of the words came from Merriam-Webster’s daily vocabulary email, but every once in awhile, I would choose something relevant to what was going on in my students’ world. When Kobe Bryant died in January 2020, the word was “lament.” On Ash Wednesday in February, we discussed “tithe.” And on Friday, March 13th of last year, our word was “fortitude.”

I had no framework of expectations for a pandemic, but I knew that it would take tremendous strength for our species to survive one. According to Merriam-Webster, fortitude means “strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.” When I presented that word to 101 confused and nervous young men, I assured them that our faith and our fortitude would see us through.

A year later, we have seen fortitude all around us. The health care providers who battle the disease head-on, the people who grow, sell, prepare, and deliver our food, the teachers, students, and parents who have adapted to virtual learning, the people who relentlessly clean the buildings we visit, the people who drop off our packages and letters, and the men and women whose vocation is to guide us in our faith are only a few of the essential workers who have displayed the strength of mind it takes to sustain a community during a time when everyone stayed home.  

“Fortitude” was not merely the word of the day on March 13, 2020. It is the word that has defined a year. The Covid-19 journey isn’t over, but we have vaccines, schools are in session, and our world is gradually opening up. Fortitude has gotten us here and fortitude will carry us on, no matter what.

Also see

May 1 marks 5th anniversary of consecrating U.S. to Mary as COVID declared a pandemic

Dealing with pandemic PTSD

Dr. Robert Redfield warns against ‘scientific arrogance,’ calls for increased biosecurity

Celebrating the class of 2024

Catholic bishops reiterate moral permissibility of COVID vaccines as boosters become available

CELAM report portrays long-lasting crisis in Latin America after COVID-19 hit the region

Copyright © 2021 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Robyn Barberry

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Asking for human life and dignity protections in the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’

Stained glass window depicting a dove and some of the apostles with flames over their heads

Come, Holy Spirit: A Pentecost Reflection

The Acts of the Apostles and ‘The Amazing Race’

A pope for our time

Communicate hope with gentleness

| Recent Local News |

Radio Interview: Dominican sister at Mount de Sales shares faith journey from astrophysics to religious life

Mount de Sales Dominican sister shares journey after pursuing science, finding faith 

Words spell success for archdiocesan students

Maryland bishops call for ‘prophetic voice’ in  pastoral letter on AI

Babe Ruth’s legacy continues to grace Archdiocese of Baltimore

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Father Rupnik’s mosaics disappear from Vatican News
  • Serve the Holy See by striving for holiness, pope tells officials, staff
  • Radio Interview: Dominican sister at Mount de Sales shares faith journey from astrophysics to religious life
  • God’s love breaks down walls, opens borders, dispels hatred, pope says
  • Asking for human life and dignity protections in the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’
  • Washington Archdiocese announces layoffs, spending cuts, restructuring
  • Washington state bishops ask court to block mandatory reporter law without Catholic confession protections
  • Movie Review: ‘The Ritual’
  • N.J. diocese hopes proposed law will resolve religious worker visa problems

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en