The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
by Father Nicholas Cirillo
Only One (1) Thing is important -- Eternal Salvation.
Only One (1) Thing, therefore, is to be Feared --
Sin. Sin is the Result of
Ignorance, Weakness, and Indifference.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of
Strength, and of Love. With His
Sevenfold (7) Gifts He Enlightens the
Mind, Strengthens the Will, and Inflames the
Heart with Love of God. To Ensure our
Salvation we ought to Invoke the Divine Spirit Daily, for
"The Spirit Helps our Infirmity. We know not how to Pray as we ought. But the Spirit Himself Intercedes for us".
The Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles
in the form of Tongues-of-Fire
|
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fear of
the Lord
|
|
Under-
standing
|
|
Fortitude
|
|
Piety
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wisdom
|
|
Counsel
|
|
Knowledge
|
|
|
|
The Gift of Fear
The Gift of Fear fills us with a Sovereign Respect for God,
and makes us Dread nothing so much as to Offend
Him by Sin. It is a Fear that arises, not
from the Thought of Hell, but from Sentiments of Reverence and Filial Submission to our
Heavenly Father. It is the Fear that is the Beginning of
Wisdom, Detaching us from the Worldly Pleasures that could
Separate us from God.
"They that Fear the Lord will prepare their Hearts, and in His Sight will Sanctify their Souls".
The Gift of Piety
The Gift of Piety Begets in our Hearts a Filial Affection for
God as our most Loving Father. It
Inspires us to Love and Respect for His Sake, Persons and Things
Consecrated to Him, as well as those who are Vested with
His Authority, His Blessed Mother
and the Saints, the Church and its Visible Head, our Parents and
Superiors, our Country and its Rulers. He who is filled with the Gift of Piety finds the Practice of his
Religion, not a Burdensome Duty, but a Delightful Service.
"Where there is Love, there is no Labor".
The Gift of Fortitude
By the Gift of Fortitude we are Strengthened against Natural Fear,
and supported to the End in the Performance of Duty. Fortitude Imparts to the
Will an Impulse which moves It to Undertake without Hesitancy the most
Arduous Tasks, to Face Dangers, and to Endure even
Lifelong Tribulation.
"He that shall Persevere until the End shall be Saved".
The Gift of Knowledge
The Gift of Knowledge enables the Soul to Evaluate Created
Things at their True Worth -- in their Relation to God. Knowledge
Unmasks the Pretense of Creatures, Reveals their Emptiness, and Points-out their only True Purpose as Instruments in the Service of
God. It shows us the Loving
Care of God even in Adversity, and directs us to
Glorify Him in every Circumstance of Life. Guided by Its Light,
we put first-things-first, and Prize the Friendship of God beyond all else.
"Knowledge is a Fountain of Life to the Man who possesses it".
The Gift of Understanding
Understanding, as a Gift of the Holy
Spirit, helps us to Grasp the Meaning of the Truths of our Holy
Religion. By Faith we know Them, but by
Understanding we learn to Appreciate and Relish Them.
It enables us to Penetrate the Inner-meaning of Revealed Truths
and through Them to be Quickened to Newness of Life. Our Faith
ceases to be Sterile and Inactive, but inspires a Mode of Life that bears Eloquent Testimony to the Faith
that is in us; we begin to:
"Walk Worthy of God in all things Pleasing, and Increasing in the Knowledge of God".
The Gift of Counsel
The Gift of Counsel endows the Soul with
Supernatural Prudence, enabling
It to Judge Promptly and Rightly what must be done in Difficult Circumstances.
Counsel applies the Principles furnished by Understanding and
Knowledge to the Innumerable Concrete Cases that confront us in the course of our Daily Duties as
Parents, Teachers and Citizens. Counsel is Supernatural Common Sense,
a Priceless Treasure in the Quest of Salvation.
"Above all these things, Pray to the Most High, that He may direct thy Way in Truth".
The Gift of Wisdom
Embodying all the other Gifts, as Charity embraces all the
other Virtues, Wisdom is the Most
Perfect of the Gifts. Of Wisdom it is written
"all Good Things came to me with Her, and Innumerable Riches through Her Hands". It is
the Gift of Wisdom that Strengthens our Faith, Fortifies
Hope, Perfects Charity, and Promotes the Practice of
Virtue in the Highest Degree.
Wisdom Enlightens the Mind to Discern and Relish things
Divine, in the Appreciation of which Earthly Joys lose their Savor, while the Cross
of Christ yields a Divine Sweetness according to the Words of
Jesus:
"Take up your Cross and follow Me, for My Yoke is Sweet and My Burden Light".
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit Perfect the Supernatural Virtues
by Enabling us to Practice Them with Greater Docility to Divine
Inspiration. As we Grow in the Knowledge and Love of
God under the Direction of the Holy Ghost, our Service becomes
more Sincere and Generous, the Practice of Virtue more Perfect.
Such Acts of Virtue leave the Heart filled with
Joy and Consolation and are known as
Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These Fruits in turn, Render the Practice of
Virtue more Attractive and become a Powerful Incentive for still Greater Efforts in the
Service of God.
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Christ Jesus, before Ascending into Heaven, You Promised to send the Holy Spirit to Your Apostles and Disciples.
Grant that the same Spirit may Perfect in our lives the Work of Your Grace and Love. Grant us:
the Spirit of Fear Of The Lord that we may be filled with a Loving Reverence toward You.
the Spirit of Piety that we may find Peace and Fulfillment in the Service of God while serving others;
the Spirit of Fortitude that we may bear our Cross with You and, with Courage, overcome the Obstacles that
Interfere with our Salvation;
the Spirit of Knowledge that we may know You and know ourselves and grow in Holiness;
the Spirit of Understanding to Enlighten our Minds with the Light of Your Truth;
the Spirit of Counsel that we may choose the Surest Way of doing Your Will,
seeking First the Kingdom;
the Spirit of Wisdom that we may Aspire to the Things that Last Forever;
Teach us to be Your Faithful Disciples and Animate us in every way with Your Spirit.
Amen
Short Meditation on the Holy Ghost
by Father John Corapi
Further Meditation on the Holy Ghost
 |
A Ten (10) minute Homily by Father Leo Clifford
on the Holy Ghost
|
|
the Holy Ghost dwells in us.
The Supernatural Order is the Ensemble of Effects exceeding the
Powers of the Created Universe, and Gratuitously produced directly by God for the
purpose of Raising the Rational Creature above its Natural Sphere to a God-like
Life and Destiny.