Come Holy Spirit

   “Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest, and in our souls take up Thy rest.  Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.”

   The beginning lines of this traditional hymn express our desire that the Holy Spirit come to us, live within us and help us in our life of faith.  When He fills our hearts He gives to us seven blessed gifts.

Wisdom:  The wisdom to judge right from wrong and direct our lives according to God’s will.

Understanding:  The ability to see deeply into our hearts and souls to better understand God and to gain insight into those truths we need for our eternal salvation.

Counsel:  The desire and willingness to seek God’s counsel in all that we do.  To open ourselves completely to God’s guidance.

Fortitude:  The courage and endurance to seek the good, even when it is difficult.  The confidence that we can overcome obstacles by virtue of our trust in God and His gift of everlasting life.

Knowledge:  The ability to more fully understand matters of faith and to use that knowledge to stay on the path God has planned for us.

Piety:  Reverence of God and the willingness to serve Him.  We are part of His family, His children.  We are the adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus and the adopted children of the Blessed Mother.  Piety is that respect and honor we owe as part of God’s family.

Fear of God:  Not fear of Him in the sense of punishment but fear of offending Him by our sins and shortcomings.  We fear separating ourselves from Him and desire above all else to spend eternity in His presence.

   These seven gifts of the Holy Spirit will guide our lives and take us home to our Lord.  They are to be the habits we develop and they offer us the opportunity to rise above our mortal life and participate in the life of God.

   “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15: 13)