What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Awaiting theological review
The simple answer
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are seven: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. They are not special powers for a few extraordinary Christians. Every baptised person receives them, and Confirmation strengthens them. They work like sails on a boat: the virtues are the rowing we do, and the gifts let the wind of the Holy Spirit carry us further than we could go alone.
In the Bible
Isaiah describes the Spirit of the Lord resting on the Messiah: a spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and fortitude, of knowledge and godliness, and of the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:1–3The Hebrew text names the fear of the Lord twice; the Greek and Latin translations render one of them as piety, which gives the list of seven the Church uses.
Isaiah 11:2–3Paul says that whoever is led by the Spirit of God is a child of God, and lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience and more.
Romans 8:14 · Galatians 5:22–23Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will teach his disciples all things and remind them of all he said.
John 14:26Where it comes from
The Fathers of the Church read Isaiah's list as the seven gifts that Christ, full of the Spirit, shares with his members.
For example, Ambrose and Augustine (locators awaiting verification)(awaiting verification)Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that the gifts are distinct from the virtues: the virtues perfect our own action, the gifts make us docile to the movement of the Holy Spirit.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I-II, q. 68 (awaiting verification)(awaiting verification)In the rite of Confirmation the bishop extends his hands over those to be confirmed and asks God to send them the Spirit with his seven gifts, naming each one.
Rite of Confirmation (wording awaiting verification)(awaiting verification)In 2014 Pope Francis gave a series of Wednesday catecheses on the seven gifts, one by one.
Pope Francis, general audiences of 2014 (dates awaiting verification)(awaiting verification)What the Church teaches
The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit: permanent dispositions that make us docile in following the promptings of the Spirit.
CCC 1830The seven gifts belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them.
CCC 1831The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us; the tradition of the Church lists twelve.
CCC 1832The seven gifts
- 1
Wisdom
To see life and the world as God sees them, and to delight in the things of God.
- 2
Understanding
To grasp more deeply what we believe, so that faith is not only words.
- 3
Counsel
To judge rightly what to do, especially in difficult choices, and to help others choose well.
- 4
Fortitude
Strength to do good and to persevere in trials, overcoming fear.
- 5
Knowledge
To see created things for what they are, gifts from God that lead to him, not idols.
- 6
Piety
The trusting love of a child for God the Father, and the love of a brother or sister for others.
- 7
Fear of the Lord
Not being afraid of God, but wonder at his greatness and the wish never to hurt the One who loves us.
A common misunderstanding
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are extraordinary powers, like speaking in tongues or working miracles.
In fact
Those are charisms, given to some for the good of others (1 Corinthians 12). The seven gifts are given to every baptised person, for their own holiness, and show up in ordinary life: a wise choice, courage to do good, a heart that prays.
Why it matters today
Read the seven gifts below and ask yourself which one you most need this week: counsel for a decision, fortitude for a hard conversation, piety to pray again. Then ask the Holy Spirit for it by name.
Bible passages
Isaiah 11:1–3 · Romans 8:14 · Galatians 5:22–23 · John 14:26 · 1 Corinthians 12:4–11Catechism
People and saints
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- Church teaching
Pope Francis, general audiences of 2014 (dates awaiting verification)awaiting verification
- Early Christian source
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I-II, q. 68 (awaiting verification)awaiting verification
For example, Ambrose and Augustine (locators awaiting verification)awaiting verification
- Tradition
Rite of Confirmation (wording awaiting verification)awaiting verification