What are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Merry Christmas!
I recently shared my awkward experience of baptism, describing it as stepping through a door into a new dimension; one that “looks just like the old one,” yet where “something invisible yet real has shifted.”
But how do I become attuned to this new reality? And by what mechanism does this transformation work?
Before my baptism, I discovered the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit while listening to Father Dave Pivonka’s Daily Holy Spirit podcast. These gifts are drawn from the prophesied traits of the Messiah in Isaiah 11:2-3:
“Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.” (CCC 1831)
At the time, I didn’t give these gifts much thought; I wasn’t yet baptized, so they felt abstract. But recently, after revisiting the podcast with new ears and a baptized heart, their significance became personal. I realized: these gifts are for me.
These seven gifts, however, are preceded by and contained within an even greater gift: love. It is through love that our sins are forgiven, and through baptism, our divine likeness is restored. (CCC 734) This love isn’t merely an emotion but a transformative power that equips the baptized to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit. As the Catechism explains, it allows us to grow in goodness through the moral virtues. (CCC 1266)
These gifts also shape a teachable spirit, guarding us against the extremes of excessive self-reliance and passive submissiveness. Instead, they open us to spiritual development.
In 2014, Pope Francis offered insightful teachings on these gifts, each worthy of deep reflection. Here is my one-sentence summary of each gift:
Wisdom: Viewing the world through God’s eyes.
Understanding: Comprehending the deeper meaning of God’s words and works.
Counsel: Discerning the right path with divine guidance.
Fortitude: Displaying courage and perseverance amidst challenges.
Knowledge: Recognizing God’s greatness through creation.
Piety: Loving and trusting God with the heart of a child.
Fear of the Lord: Living in humility and awe of God’s boundless love and mercy.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are essential for becoming attuned to this new dimension of faith. They deepen my relationship with God, guide my decisions, and enable me to reflect His love and wisdom in the world. These gifts are not just a set of abstract virtues but a dynamic force, inviting me to participate in God’s transformative work.
Each gift holds the potential to shape not only my inner life but also how I engage with others: offering counsel to a friend, showing fortitude in trials, or simply standing in awe of God’s greatness. The more I lean into these gifts, the more I feel the invisible yet real shift that baptism initiated: a journey toward becoming who I am called to be.
If you were baptized, these gifts have already been planted in you like an incorruptible seed. Water them with prayer and let them blossom.
Merry Christmas!