By Hand and Heart

A Short Catechism - The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit When a Christian receives the Holy Spirit, especially through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, he or she is filled with divine grace to live a holy and fruitful life. Among the treasures the Holy Spirit bestows are the seven Gifts and the twelve Fruits. These seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, rooted in the prophecy of Isaiah 11:2-3 and affirmed by the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1831), are: - Wisdom – to value spiritual things over worldly ones, and to see all things with the eyes of God. - Understanding – to grasp the truths of faith more deeply. - Counsel (Right Judgment) – to know the right thing to do in the light of God's will. - Fortitude (Courage) – to overcome fear and remain steady in the face of trials. - Knowledge – to see the circumstances of our life as God sees them. - Piety (Reverence) – to love and worship God as a devoted child loves a father. - Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe) – not ou...