GIFTS of the HOLY SPIRIT

Vincent de Beauvais  15th C -French

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit given to us on Pentecost are enumerated in Isaiah 11:2-3. The  Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, "They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them." Infused with His gifts, we respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as if by instinct, the way Christ Himself would.



 FORTITUDE (COURAGE)-we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a follower of  Jesus Christ. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil.
     St. Thomas Aquinas (In the Summa Theologica) asserts fortitude corresponds to the virtue of  courage. Fortitude is the virtue of the martyrs that allows them to suffer death rather than to renounce their Faith.

St. Thecla & Family- Koyto 1619

COUNSEL- we know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus.
     The gift of counsel corresponds to the virtue of  prudence.

F. B. Jorge Tarifa- Argentina

KNOWLEDGE-  we understand the meaning of God. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts.


UNDERSTANDING- we comprehend how we need to live as followers of Christ.
      The gifts of understanding and knowledge correspond to the virtue of faith.


WISDOM  is the capacity to love spiritual things more than material ones.
      The gift of wisdom corresponds to the virtue of charity.

PITY (REVERENCE) - we have a deep sense of respect for God and the Church. We recognize  our total reliance on God and come before God with humility, trust,and love. Piety is the   gift whereby we pay worship and duty to God. It is the most misunderstood of the gifts as we often use the word piety to denote someone who is overly scrupulous. In the Hebrew the word is HESED which is hard to translate. It is basically the covenant between God and His people.
      The gift of piety corresponds to the virtue of  justice.

FEAR OF THE LORD (WONDER AND AWE) - With  fear of the Lord we are aware of  the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and  perfect love.
       The gift of fear of the Lord corresponds to the virtue of  hope.

Linda Schmidt- Quilt

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are  essential for our sanctification and salvation. Blessed Pope John Paul II said, "With gifts and qualities such as these, we are equal to any task and capable of overcoming any difficulties."

Veronica Dimae- Australia