Wisdom: Throughout the Old Testament, people sought the best way to live in order to achieve peace and harmony in their lives. They began by collecting “Wise Sayings” of the elders, handing them down to their children as a book on how to live. Gradually these became known as the Wisdom books of the Old Testament.
With the growth of divine revelation and reflection about it, we came to identify wisdom with the person of Jesus Christ. The gift of wisdom today, therefore, is to know, love, and grow in personal friendship with Jesus.
Understanding: Jesus said, Let the little children come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven(Mt 19:14).
Children are born with attitudes that equip them for life: trust and belief in their father, awe and wonderment at the world about them that increases their trust and belief, and a spontaneous and free love that wins the heart of any parent. Jesus raises these natural inclinations of children to the faith relationship with his Father in heaven.
The gift of understanding helps one see our child-father relationship, hence our relationship with one another.
Knowledge: The world might be said to be something like a lightbulb. When tucked away in a closet, it is somewhat ugly, oddly shaped, dingy, dusty, and of little purpose. But when connected to its source of power (like being placed in a lamp), it comes alive, giving off light, powerful, warm, and allowing others to see things properly and use them according to their purpose.
Knowledge enables us to see the world and all things in it by the light of the Risen Christ shining from within.
Counsel: Normally we think of counsel as that which is provided by a wise person, one who can answer the questions in our heart. But counsel is greater than that. It is a gift which enables us to hear and perceive the voice of God speaking through all the events and people who have ever lived, revealing his plan for humanity with deep insight into who we are and what role we are to play.
Piety: It has been misconstrued by many as a whimpering person wallowing in tears, hoping to attract God’s attention, like a spoiled child trying to get what it wishes from its mother.
Quite the contrary! Piety is a gift wherein a person truly experiences who they are. You are my son, today I have become your father (Ps. 2:7). It is often from the experience of this truth that the Christian life in us truly begins, for all prayer, all personal friendship, must begin with a sincere heartfelt “Abba,” Father!
Fortitude: This is another word for courage. What do you think the saints unanimously agreed upon as the most difficult task on earth? To live like Jesus. They did not fear fasting, sleepless nights, hardships, or even persecution as much as the martyrdom of loving like Jesus loved. No wonder we in Madonna House pray for “the heart of a child, and the awesome courage to live it out.” It takes real courage to love.
Fear of the Lord: The English word “fear” was poorly chosen to describe this virtue. But if we search the scriptures, we soon realize that the real meaning is to be found in what it includes: reverence, respect, awe, and wonderment, especially concerning God’s presence in the world. Anyone who truly fears the Lord walks upon the earth realizing that it is holy ground. This fear is considered a foundation stone upon which the spiritual life is built; many claim it is a large part of love itself.
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Here, also are two most important virtues:
Patience: This was one of the most prized, most sought-after, virtues by the saints. Why? Because it is like a treasure chest which contains many spiritual gems, such as the diamond of faith, the emerald of hope, and the ruby of love.
Patience is the key to our treasure chest of heaven. The patient person is already proficient in faith, hope, and charity.
Modesty: The heart of a bride is a precious thing, a heart that is like the petal of a rose before it has opened.
Some are so eager to see its beauty that they pry the flower open before its time, thus destroying forever the beauty it contained. Or perhaps the bride’s heart is like the rosebud that never received enough life-giving water from prayer; when it opened, it was disfigured and colorless.
Or again, the rosebud opened to every ray of the sun, receiving attention and affection from so many that when the groom appeared, he seemed no different from other men.
Modesty is the virtue of the good gardener, who knows exactly how prayer, self-denial, and loving service are necessary to prepare the bride for the one and only groom of her soul — Jesus Christ. Modesty is willing to pay the price in time, effort, or preparation in order to be completely beautiful when he comes.
A priest of Madonna House, Fr. Duffy, now deceased, was much involved in the charismatic renewal. He explained these gifts in 1972.
Artwork by ©Pat Probst, Madonna House
