Gifts of the Ghost

I've started pondering the Holy Spirit more. As a former "frozen chosen" it's difficult to relate to the person of the Trinity associated with movement and tongues and flames and emotion. But I'm starting to appreciate the movement of the Spirit in my life more and more and trying to make a conscious effort to be better acquainted. The most obvious place to start is the sacraments where I know we've met. The Holy Spirit gives gifts at baptism and confirmation; it would be rude not to open them.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are first found in Isaiah 11: 2-3 describing the Root of Jesse: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, and Spirit of knowledge and godliness—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.”  We receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit at our baptism, and they are strengthened through confirmation. We are given these gifts in order to spread and defend the faith. They are our tools, so like the disciples at Pentecost, we can be send out to share the Good News.

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, the gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and counsel direct the intellect, while fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord direct the will. The gifts help us exercise virtue and combat sin.

Wisdom, the first and highest gift, helps us to understand God and direct our actions toward Him. It is more than knowledge; it is an extension of belief into understanding that belief. Wisdom allows us to see the world in its true light. By knowing the proper ordering of the world, we can better bear its burdens and respond in ways that glorify God.

Understanding helps us see the core truth of beliefs and revelations. Through understanding, we see how all the pieces fit together. Understanding rises above natural reason and helps us draw out philosophical, theological, and moral conclusions. By seeing the big picture, we can make practical decisions that affect the world and our lives, guiding them toward God.

Counsel helps us judge how to best take action in situations. It builds upon what we discern through wisdom and understanding and brings that into practical application. It assures us and encourages us to do the right thing. Counsel gives us the guidance to defend the truth.

Fortitude helps us overcome fear and stand up for the truth. It is reasoned courage that emboldens us when our faith is tested, ridiculed, or persecuted. It was the martyrs’ fortitude that gave them the strength to die for the faith. But often we do not have to face that; instead we need fortitude against temptations, modern secular culture, and evil spirits.

Knowledge helps us judge according to truth. Whereas wisdom and understanding provide the will and intellect to discern truth, knowledge is the faculty by which it is known. Knowledge helps us see the circumstances and consequences that must be factored into right judgment. It helps us know God’s purpose for us. It also helps us distinguish the voice of God from the temptations of the devil and choose our response accordingly.

Piety helps us grow in desire to worship and serve God. It helps us go beyond practicing religion out of obligation and practice it out of love for God. Piety is sometimes called “the perfection of the virtue of religion.” It calls us to prayer, to Mass, to respect others, to acts of charity, to do all things for God.

Fear of the Lord helps us to maintain a healthy relationship with God. It is not the type of fear that comes from being scared or threatened. Fear of the Lord is the desire to not offend God but to show Him proper honor and respect. It is the foundation of our relationship with God, similarly to how in childhood our desire to not disappoint our parents first teaches us what actions are right or wrong. It is rooted in love.