Chapter 7. The Gifts of the Holy Ghost

The seven gifts of the Holy Ghost were first revealed in the prophecy of Isaias, who, foretelling the coming of the Messias or the Christ, that is, of the Anointed One, says, ' There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root, and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and of godliness; and he shall be filled with the fear of the Lord.'1 These seven 1 Isaias xi. 1-3.

gifts dwelt in fulness first in Jesus, the Head of the Mystical Body, and then from Him they descend upon the whole Church, and upon every member of the same. It is of this S. John writes, 'Ye have the unction from the Holy One, and know all things. Let that unction which you have received from Him abide in you, and you have no need that any man teach you.'2 These gifts are infused with the three theological virtues and the sanctify ing grace whereby we were made sons of God in our regeneration by water and the Holy Ghost.

They are therefore distinct from the three theological virtues, which are supernatural and active habits, uniting the soul with God by faith, by hope, and by charity. These gifts also are permanent and active habits of a more special and perfect kind, by which the intellect and the will are made prompt in co-operation and obedience

« 1 S. John ii. 20? 27.

to the inspirations of the Holy Ghost.3 Their office is as follows:

1. First they elicit or call out the activity of the will and of the intellect in the exercise of faith, hope, and charity; and in perfecting these they perfect the reason, the heart, and the will, that is, both the natural faculties and the supernatural habits of the soul. They give to them a promptness in corresponding with the Holy Ghost, and a perfection in their operations. They have been well described as the sails by which the soul is carried onward in its course. The more fully they are spread, the speedier is the course. If they are furled by sin or reefed by indolence, the course is slack ened and stayed, till all progress is lost, and the soul lies motionless MS a ship upon a stagnant sea.

2. Next they cultivate the spiritual powers of the soul. They give to the spiritual sight a quick and sure discernment of truth and of ' the mind of the

8 S. Thomaj, Sum. Theol. 1. 2, q. 08.

Spirit.' They enable it to perceive the meaning of the commandments both in the letter and in the spirit. They give an in tuition by which to know what is the will of God, what is the vocation by which He calls us, what is the way of counsels and of perfection. They give also a foresight which seems to forecast and to foretell the consequences of our actions, an intuition of the future, of its duties, and of its dan gers. They cultivate also the ear, so that a spiritual hearing is opened within the natural ear of sense. It was of this that our Lord spoke when He said, ' He that hath ears to hear let him hear.'4 ' He that heareth you heareth Me;' and S. Paul, 'Faith comet-h by hearing.'5 This is the reason why so many hear and so few be lieve. The spiritual ear is closed and heavy. The seven gifts give also to the soul a spiritual taste, of which the Psalmist speaks when he says, ' Taste, and see that

« S. Matt. xiii. 9. s Rom. x. 17.

the Lord is sweet,'6 and l How great is the multitude of Thy sweetness which Thou hast hid for them that fear Thee.'7 And S. Paul contrasts those who are perfected by these gifts with those who do not know them. ' What man knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man that is in him 1 So the things that are of God no man knoweth, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit of God, that we may know the things that are given us from God; which things also we speak, not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doc trine of the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. The sensual man perceiveth not those things that are of the Spirit of God; for it is foolishness unto him, and he cannot understand, because it is spiritually examined. But the spiritual man judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.'8

• Ps. xxxiii. 9. • 1 Cor. ii. 11-15.

7 Ibid. xxx. 20.

3. And by cultivating the faculties and virtues of the soul they raise it to perfection. The reason has four lights: the light of nature and of faith and of natural prudence and of supernatural prudence. Upon these come the four gifts which make the reason perfect. The gifts of intellect and of wisdom make it perfect in its speculative and contemplative powers; the gifts of science or knowledge and of counsel perfect its practical powers of discernment and of judgment. The other three gifts perfect the will. First, by a holy fear of sin; next, by a filial love and piety towards God; and lastly, by a fortitude in obedience and in suffering for the truth and for the will of God. The perfections of the intellect and of the will constitute the perfection of the whole soul.

Now it is especially by these three gifts that perfect the will that Saints are created. Holy fear, filial piety, and fortitude form the perfection of children, of the poor, and of the poor in spirit, such as S. Francis, S. Philip, S. Charles.

It is the four that perfect the intellect that create the Doctors of the Church, such as S. Athanasius, S. Augustine, S. Anselm, S. Thomas, among its scientific teachers of sacred science; S. Bonaventure, S. Ed mund, S. Bernard, S. Alphonsus, among its pastors and guides of souls.

It is the union of these gifts in the unity of the Church that has wrought out the supernatural legislation of the canon laws, the definitions of Councils, and the scientific tradition of theology, dogmatic and moral, mystical and ascetical.

It is the stifling and the loss of these seven gifts that has made sinners and here tics, worldlings and fools, who make the fool's bargain with Satan, and to gain the world sell their soul.

0 God, the Father of lights, from whom cometh every best and every perfect gift, grant that the seven gifts of the Holy

Ghost may have their perfect work in my intellect and in my will. Cast out of me all sloth and sensuality, all presumption and pride, and everything which hinders the illumination and sanctification of my soul. May the Holy Ghost come upon me, and the power of the Most High keep me from all sin, and fill me with the seven fold gift of His presence.

Jesus, have mercy on me.

Holy Mary, pray for me.