OPENING PRAYER

ACTIVITY!
THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

T H E M A N I F E S TAT I O N O F S A N C T I F Y I N G
GRACE
The Holy Spirit, symbolized by a white dove, is
one among the Holy Trinity and holds great
importance in Christianity. The Holy Spirit is a
guide, protector, a light that shows believers
the right path. Being one among the 'Triune
God' the Holy Spirit helps us all come closer to
our spirituality and faith through the seven
gifts.
WISDOM
The Latin word for 'wisdom'
is Sapientia.
It's a feminine gender noun. It may be translated as
'wisdom, prudence, good sense, discernment'.

In the ancient, classical Latin language of the ancient

Romans, it particularly refers to proficiency in the
departments of knowledge, such as philosophy or
science.
We see pain and also love, disappointments and
blessings, natural catastrophes and also wonders,
death and life, and even though we have "faith" in
Him, we fail to have the wisdom to comprehend
God's will behind creating a world with such
complexities. The gift of wisdom helps us see the
bigger picture. When wisdom enters us, we don't just
accept for the sake of accepting, we accept because
we can now see the meaning behind these events in
a wise manner, through the light of the Holy Spirit.
Upon receiving this gift, we see
beyond the realm of faith, we see this
world from God's point of view.
Therefore, this gift helps us to
respond wisely to the worldly
challenges. We focus on nourishing
our spiritual self than the material
self, and draw closer to God in the
process.
UNDERSTANDING
Understanding is the second of the seven gifts of the
Holy Spirit. Understanding allows us to "penetrate to
the very core of revealed truths." This doesn't mean
that we can come to understand, say, the Trinity the
way that we might a mathematical equation, but
that we become certain of the truth of the doctrine
of the Trinity. Such certitude moves beyond faith,
which "merely assents to what God has revealed."
Once we become convinced through an understanding of the
truths of the Faith, we can also draw conclusions from those
truths and arrive at a further understanding of man's relation to
God and his role in the world. Understanding rises above
natural reason, which is concerned only with the things we can
sense in the world around us.

Thus, understanding is both speculative—concerned with

intellectual knowledge—and practical, because it can help us to
order the actions of our lives toward our final end, which is
God. Through understanding, we see the world and our life
within it in the larger context of the eternal law and the relation
of our souls to God.
"The 'gift of understanding' is the penetration of the
truths of faith. It deepens faith as to the meaning of
revealed truth, adding new depths to the mystery." For
example, it could be an aspect of the Holy Trinity or
the greatness of God. The 'gift of understanding'
provides a kind of living experience of the mystery,
whatever it may be. One or two of those experiences
can make a deep impression and last a lifetime.