Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

We receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Baptism. However, we receive an outpouring of these gifts at Confirmation.

Seeing what is truly valuable in life and judging according to God's standards

Example: Missing a favorite TV show because you desire to contemplate or speak with God in prayer.

WISDOM

Insight into the Faith

Example: Understanding mysteries to a degree, in contrast to people, in lacking this gift, do not understand them at all.

UNDERSTANDING

Spiritual know-how: knowing the spiritual value and use of created things.

Example: Knowing when a certain thing can lead us closer to God

KNOWLEDGE

Seeing what is best for us in relationship to God's will

Example: Discerning God's will in a given situation.

COUNSEL

Strength in difficulty to be faithful to Christ

Example: Courage to give up wealth, friends, and family for Christ, even to the point of suffering martyrdom.

FORTITUDE

Affection for God as our Father who loves us and who is worthy of worship.

Example: Saint Therese often spoke of her heavenly Father and place great trust in his mercy.

PIETY

Seeing the evil of sin and having a healthy respect for almighty God.

Example: A movement within us, which stops us from sinning out of healthy fear of offending God.

FEAR OF
THE LORD

Fruits of the Holy Spirit

As we grow in prayer and in the use of these seven gifts, we will see certain effects taking place in our lives. These are called the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit. We will know that our spiritual life is healthly if we see these fruits in our relationships with God and other.