We often associate courage with fearlessness in the face of danger. In our society, fortitude has been disconnected from the other virtues that define its true meaning. But courage is not about being reckless. It is not about courting danger for an adrenalin rush. Courage may involve great acts of heroism that involve danger and the possible loss of one’s life, but there are countless displays of courage that are more mundane and even go entirely unnoticed. Earlier this week, Pope Francis spoke about the ‘hidden saints’ of everyday life and their fortitude:

Let us think of those men, of those women who have a difficult life, who fight to feed their family, to educate their children: they do all of this because the spirit of fortitude is helping them. How many men and women there are — we do not know their names — who honor our people, who honor our Church, because they are strong: strong in carrying forward their lives, their family, their work, their faith. These brothers and sisters of ours are saints, everyday saints, hidden saints among us: the gift of fortitude is what enables them to carry on with their duties as individuals, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, citizens. We have many of them! Let us thank the Lord for these Christians who live in hidden holiness: the Holy Spirit is within them carrying them forward! And it will benefit us to think about these people: if they do all of this, if they can do it, why can’t I? And it will also do us good to ask the Lord to give us the gift of fortitude.

Holiness is not just present among saints who seek mystical union with God as hermits in a distant desert locale or those ministering to the poor in the streets of Calcutta, but among these everyday saints whose virtue may be less obvious to the outside observer. Duty is not an antiquated concept, and holiness is not for a select few. Pope Francis’ words are a reminder that we are all called to be saints. Those whose hidden courage allows them to fulfill everyday duties in the face of countless obstacles are holy, and their holiness and courage are integral to transforming the world by making God’s ineffable love more present in all of our lives. What a blessing it is to have these hidden saints in our everyday lives.