Gifts & Fruits of the Holy Spirit
May 19, 2024
May the Holy Spirit be worshiped and praised ~
While Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity takes center stage every Sunday, on this one Sunday, Pentecost, we specifically honor the Holy Spirit. Today I recycle a pastor’s column from five years ago about the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those fruits and gifts are substantial, and it is my hope that we continue to grow in them for the rest of our lives for the greater glory of God and the sanctification of souls, beginning with our own.
May you be blessed in The Holy Spirit,
Fr. Thomas Nathe
I. Fruits of the Holy Spirit
A. Traditional
1. Charity
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Long-suffering
8. Humility
9. Fidelity
10. Modesty
11. Continence
12. Chastity
B. New Revised Standard Version
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-control
II. Gifts of the Holy Spirit
A. According to St. Paul – 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
1. Speaking with wisdom
2. Speaking with knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Discerning Spirits
8. Speaking in tongues
9. Interpretation of tongues
A. Traditional – Isaiah 11:2-3
1. Wisdom – by detaching us from the world, makes us relish and love the things of heaven.
2. Understanding – helps us to grasp the truths of religion as far as is necessary.
3. Counsel – springs from supernatural prudence, and enables us to see and choose correctly what will help most to the glory of God and our own salvation.
4. Fortitude – we receive courage to overcome the obstacles and difficulties that arise in the practice of our religious duties.
5. Knowledge – points out to us the path to follow and the dangers to avoid in order to reach heaven.
6. Piety – by inspiring us with a tender and filial confidence in God, makes us joyfully embrace all that pertains to His service.
7. Fear of the Lord – see below.
B. Fear of the Lord
This term, a reverence for God, is literally the Hebrew word for religion – See Job 28:28; Proverbs 1:7, 9:10; Sirach 1:16.
1. The object of fear of the Lord is divine justice. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Psalm 111:10.
A. Filial fear (selfless): fear of offending
B. Servile fear (selfish): fear of being punished
2. The object of the love of the Lord is divine goodness. “Perfect love casts out fear” 1 John 4:18.
I. Charisms
This word comes from the Greek Charismata, gifts of grace, and is used by St. Paul for the extraordinary, supernatural, and transitory gifts given directly for the common good, which is the spiritual welfare of the Christian community. This listing, by category, is from 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, the longest single enumeration of charisms.
A. Charisms of Administration – Gifts for shepherding God’s people
1. Pastor – Ephesians 4:11; Acts 20:28
2. Administrator – Romans 12:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 1 Timothy 5:17
3. Minister – 1 Corinthians 16:15; Romans 12:7
B. Charisms of Knowledge – Gifts for the mind, to instruct others in faith
1. Prophet – 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 11:27-30, 15:32, 21:10-40; 1 Corinthians 11:5, 14:3, 14:24-25; Acts 21:9
2. Evangelist – Acts 21:8; Timothy 4:5
3. Teacher – Romans 12:7, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Timothy 4:13, 16
4. Exhorter – Romans 12:8, 1 Timothy 4:13, Acts 4:36
5. Proclaimer of wisdom – 1 Corinthians 12:8
6. Proclaimer of knowledge – 1 Corinthians 12:8
C. Charisms of Prayer
Gifts of communing with God (See 1 Corinthians 14:2)
D. Charisms of Service
1. Almsgiving – Romans 12:8
2. Manifestation of mercy – Romans 12:8
3. Helpfulness – 1 Corinthians 12:28
4. Leadership – 1 Corinthians 12:28
