Holy Ghost came upon many of the faithful in visible
form and with visible effects or visible signs
(Acts 8, 17; 10,44; 11, 15),
because they were truly faithful servants, humble and sincere, pure and ready
of heart to receive Him. Also in our times He comes to many just souls,
although not with such open manifestations, because it is neither necessary nor
proper. The interior effects and gifts
which
are seven in number are all of the same nature, acting according to
the disposition and state of the one who receives them.
The
seven gifts of the Holy Ghost are: (1) wisdom,
(2) understanding or intellect, (3) fortitude, (4) science or knowledge, (5) piety,
(6) counsel, and (7) holy fear. (Isaiah
11:1-3)
 |
| The seven gift of the Holy Ghost (Isaiah 11;1-3) |
The
first one, which is the gift of Wisdom,
fills the mind with the knowledge and the delight of divine things and moves
the heart to a sincere love toward the practice and exercise of all that is
good, all that is best, most perfect and agreeable in the eyes of the Lord
Wisdom
is aided by the second gift, that of Understanding or Intellect, which gives special light
to penetrate profoundly into the object presented to the understanding. With
this gift one must co-operate by diverting and turning aside one’s attention
and thoughts from all the bastard and foreign objects of knowledge, which the
demon either by himself or through other creatures shall present to thy mind in
order to distract it and prevent it from penetrating deeply into the truth of
divine things
When
the whole attention of the soul has thus been riveted on understanding the
good,
Fortitude, the third gift, is
necessary, in order to execute resolutely all that the understanding has
perceived as most holy, perfect and agreeable before the Lord. The difficulties
and hindrances in the pursuit of the good are to be overcome by Fortitude,
making the creature ready to suffer whatever labour or pain, in order not to be
deprived of the true and highest Good it has come to know.
The fourth gift, that of Science, which gives light to distinguish between different kinds
of good, teaches the most certain and secure way, and decides upon it, when
necessary.
To this is joined the gift of Piety,
the fifth, which inclines the soul
with sweet urgency to all that is truly pleasing and acceptable to the Lord and
to what is of real spiritual benefit to the one executing it. It inclines the
creatures to these things not through the natural passions, but by holy,
perfect and virtuous motives.
Then, in order that man may be guided by high
prudence, the sixth gift, that of
Counsel, supports his understanding, in order that he may act with
precision and without temerity; weighing the means and taking counsel with
himself and with others discreetly for gaining honest and holy ends by the
selection of the proper means.
To all these is added Holy Fear, the last,
which guards and sets the seal upon all of them. This gift inclines the heart
to fly and avoid all that is imperfect, dangerous or alien to the virtues and
perfections of the soul, thus serving as a wall of defense. It is necessary to
understand the object and the manner of this holy Fear, lest it grow excessive
and cause the creature to fear, where there is no occasion.
