Showing posts with label Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

The Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Isaiah 11:2

The Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit as quoted in Isaiah 11:2 the first is Wisdom second is Understanding, third is Counsel, and fourth is Fortitude fifth is Knowledge sixth is Piety and the seventh is Fear of the Lord.

The Gift of Wisdom
The gift of wisdom points those who have it to see things from God’s perspective. Wisdom is completeness of knowledge. Wisdom inspires us through meditative reflection on what we believe. The gift of wisdom supports the virtue of faith and shields us against foolishness.

The gift of Understanding
The gift of understanding gives to the mind of those who have it a charm for understanding Jesus’ public disclosure without any difficulty. It helps those who have it penetrate to the heart of discovered fact even when they do not fully understand its entirety.

The gift of Counsel
The gift of counsel perfects in those who have it the virtue of carefulness. It enables an individual to judge without delay and correctly, as by intuition, what should be done in difficult situations through the gift of counsel the Holy Spirit speaks to the heart and shows those who have it what to do. Jesus gave His followers a gift like counsel when He told them, Mt 10:19 “When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

The gift of Fortitude
The gift of fortitude brings to those who have it a determined spirit of resolution, decisiveness of mind, and indomitable will to persevere with a profound faith in God’s providence that overcomes all obstacles. It brings courage to persevere despite trials, sickness, maltreatment or external failure. A Catholic who becomes steadfast in his faith will be condemned by the world, but the gift of fortitude will sustain him.

The gift of Knowledge
The gift of knowledge enables those who have it to make wise judgment and opinion. He can see God’s providence in everything that happens to his life and he is able to wisely discern the good and bad side of it.

The gift of Piety
The gift of Piety creates an instinctive love for God and fidelity to those who are consecrated to God. Piety arises from the Holy Spirit’s supernatural communication, rather than from effort or acquired habit.Piety is the gift wherein, at the Holy Spirit's initiation, we give worship and duty to God as our Father."

The gift of Fear of the Lord
The gift of fear of the Lord confirms profound respect for God’s splendor and self-sacrificing love for God. It protects us from sin through fear of offending God. I just want to make it clear that this gift has nothing to do with fear of punishment. We express fear of the Lord in a perfect act of contrition/repentance.

N.B. If we will look through Isaiah 11:2 there are only six gift of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t include the gift of Piety. However the foundation of the established names of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which is the Septuagint and the Vulgate read "piety" for fear of the LORD when it first came out, therefore listing seven gifts.