Today we remember Saint George. He was likely a respected officer in the Roman army when the Emperor Diocletian issued an order to “tear down the churches to the foundations and to destroy the Sacred Scriptures by fire.” George then had a real dragon to slay: His own fear. To go against the imperial order would surely mean death. But to let others carry it out, to fail even to stand up to it, would mean a life of cowardice and an abandonment of his faith.

Courage is not the absence of fear but the acquired ability to move beyond fear. And that is what Saint George did. He moved beyond his fears and stood up to the assault on his faith.

One day, George was in attendance as Diocletian’s imperial order was being publicly proclaimed. George stepped onto the podium. He snatched the order from the speaker’s hands and ripped it to shreds in front of everyone, inspiring every Christian in the audience to stay firm in their faith.

As a result, Saint George was tortured and executed.

What fears do we have to slay today?