It is difficult to name another Catholic doctrine of as hallowed antiquity as the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that is subject to such benign neglect. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are, according to Catholic Tradition, heroic character traits that the Lord Jesus Christ alone possesses in the plenitude but that He freely shares with the members of his mystical body. (i.e., His Church) These traits are infused into every Christian as a permanent endowment at his baptism, nurtured by the practice of the seven virtues, and sealed in the sacrament of confirmation. They are also known as the Sanctifying gifts of the Spirit, because they serve the purpose of rendering their recipients docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their lives, helping them to grow in holiness and making them fit for heaven.

The nature of the seven gifts has been debated by theologians since the mid-second century, but the standard interpretation has been the one that Saint Thomas Aquinas worked out in the thirteenth century in his Summa Theologiae:

1--WISDOM is both the knowledge of and judgment about "divine things" and the ability to judge and direct human according to divine truth (I/I.1.6;I/II.69,3;II/II.8.6;II/II.45,1-5).

2--UNDERSTANDING is penetrating insight into the very heart of things, especially those higher truths that are necessary for our eternal salvation - in effect, the ability to "see" God. (I/I.12.5;I/II.69.2;II/II.8.1-3)

3--COUNSEL allows a man to be directed by God in matters necessary for his salvation. (II/II.52.1)

4--FORTITUDE denotes a firmness of mind in doing good and in avoiding evil, particularly when it is difficult or dangerous to do so, and the confidence to overcome all obstacles, even deadly ones, by virtue of the assurance of everlasting life. (I/II.61.3;II/II.123.2;II/II.139.1)

5--KNOWLEDGE is the ability to judge correctly about matters of faith and right action, so as to never wander from the straight path of justice. (II/II.9.3)

6--PIETY is, principally, revering God with filial affection, paying worship and duty to God, paying due duty to all men on account of their relationship to God, and honoring the saints and not contradicting Scripture. The Latin word pietas denotes the reverence that we give to our father and to our country; since God is the Father of all, the worships of God is also called piety. (I/II.68.4;II/II.121.1)

7--FEAR OF GOD is, in this context "filial" or chaste fear whereby we revere God and avoid separating ourselves from him - as opposed to "servile" fear, whereby we fear punishment. (I/II.67.4;II/II.19.9)

These gifts, according to Aquinas, are "habits","instincts",or "dispositions" provided by God as supernatural helps to man in the process of his "perfection". They enable man to transcend the limitations of human reason and human nature and participate in the very life of God, as Christ promised - John 14:23 - Aquinas insisted that they are necessary for man's salvation, which he cannot achieve on his own. They serve to "perfect" the four cardinal or moral virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) and the three theological virtues (faith, hope, and love). The virtue of love/charity is the key that unlocks the potential power of the seven gifts, which can (and will) lie dormant in the soul after baptism unless so acted upon.

Because "grace builds upon nature" (ST I/I.2.3), the seven gifts work synergistically with the seven virtues and also with the twelve fruits of the Spirit and the eight beatitudes. The emergence of the gifts is fostered by the practice of the virtues which in turn are perfected by the exercise of the gifts. The proper exercise of the gifts, in turn produce the fruits of the Spirit in the life of the Christian: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. - Gal. 5:22-23 - The goal of this cooperation among virtues gifts, and fruits is the attainment of the eight-fold state of beatitude described by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. - Matt. 5:3-10 -

BY FRANK X. BLISARD
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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -