The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and God's Presence

Do you know your dominant gifts? If not, you may be able to discern them by looking at your passions, desires, interests, abilities, circumstances, and opportunities. Of course, prayer helps too. When we see how the gifts of the Holy Spirit relate to us, we can choose to use them for God's glory. This is one way that God works through us. And the more God works through us, the more we become like Him.

KNOXVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - One of the ways that God makes His presence felt is through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if we want to be more aware of God's presence in the world and in our lives, becoming more familiar with His gifts is a good place to begin. Although there are many gifts (1Cor 12-13), the Church traditionally recognizes seven primary gifts of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1831). They are fear, piety, fortitude, knowledge, understanding, counsel, and wisdom. Unfortunately, these gifts are often poorly understood or utilized. The "Novena to the Holy Spirit" published in The Catholic Family Book of Novenas provides some helpful information about these seven gifts. The gift of fear fills us with awe and reverence for God. It makes us dread the thought of displeasing God because of our love for Him. A right-ordered and healthy fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The gift of piety fills us with a loving affection for God as our father. It inspires us to respect and love all persons and things for God's sake. Piety transforms religious practices and worship into joyful service to God. The gift of fortitude strengthens us against our natural fears. It enables us to persevere when we are confronted with difficulty or danger. Fortitude provides us with the energy and resolve to endure even lifelong tribulation. The gift of knowledge reveals the emptiness of created things in themselves. It enables us to see them for what they are and place them in proper relation to God. Knowing the true value or worth of created things enables us to use them for their true purpose. The gift of understanding helps us grasp the truths of our faith, especially revealed truth. It enables us to penetrate the deep layers of truth and discover rich meaning in our faith. Understanding inspires sterile, inactive faith and transforms it into a powerful testimony. The gift of counsel is like supernatural common sense. It helps us to make proper judgments. Counsel enables us to apply the gifts of knowledge and understanding in the actual circumstances that confront us in our daily life.  The gift of wisdom embodies all the other gifts. It is the highest and most perfect of the seven gifts. It enlightens the mind and directs it to that which is eternal, transcendent, and divine--God. Wisdom strengthens faith, fortifies hope, and perfects charity. Being familiar with the gifts of the Holy Spirit is a good beginning, but to become more aware of God's presence, we also need to see how His gifts relate to us. As children of God, we have all been given a share in each of the seven gifts, as well as others; however, for many of us, it seems like one or two are usually dominant. Do you know your dominant gifts? If not, you may be able to discern them by looking at your passions, desires, interests, abilities, circumstances, and opportunities. Of course, prayer helps too, lots of prayer. When we see how the gifts of the Holy Spirit relate to us, we can choose to use them for God's glory. This is one way that God works through us. And the more God works through us, the more we become like Him. And as we become more like Him, we become more aware of His presence in the world and in our lives.
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Michael Terheyden was born into a Catholic family, but that is not why he is a Catholic. He is a Catholic because he believes that truth is real, that it is beautiful and good, and that the fullness of truth is in the Catholic Church. However, he knows that God's grace operating throughout his life is the main reason he is a Catholic. He is greatly blessed to share his faith and his life with his beautiful wife, Dorothy. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.

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