Sacramentum is a series devised by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, exploring the sacraments of the Catholic Church and other aspects of parish life and Catholic devotion. In this reflection, Sr. Connie Harkin, SSND details the gifts of the Holy Spirit, calling us to reflect upon how God bestows these gifts in our daily lives.

Veni Creator Spiritus – “Come Holy Spirit” – This is a rather familiar chant to many of us.

We may have heard it proclaimed at significant ceremonies in our Catholic Church. We have probably heard it at the Ordination of Priests, Bishops, and the Profession of Vows for those who are responding to the call to Religious Life. We are also accustomed to beginning our prayers – In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. When we received the Sacrament of Baptism, and again at a later time, the Sacrament of Confirmation, we were also reminded of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Having recently celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, which commemorates the birthday of the Church and brings to a close the Easter season, we are in a special time to reflect on the role of God in the Person of the Holy Spirit, and how the Holy Spirit is at work in each of our lives.

Let us first reflect upon the events of Pentecost. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, His followers were gathered around as He ascended to heaven. They knew He was not abandoning them, since before ascending to His heavenly Father Jesus assured His Apostles:

“It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7,8)

These words were a message of great hope and courage, a hope and courage which the Apostles came to fully realize and experience at Pentecost – when the transformative power of the Holy Spirit changed their lives.

At Pentecost the Apostles, now filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, proclaimed the Gospel to all peoples gathered in Jerusalem. Their miraculous abilities were most powerfully displayed by the gifts of tongues, as every person there heard them preach in his own native tongue. By the Apostles’ witness and preaching, many thousands were baptized that very day.

What do the miraculous events of Pentecost mean for us today? It can be difficult to make the time just to ponder the very question. In modern life, it goes without saying that we are all easily absorbed in our daily duties and routines. We become so wrapped up in meeting deadlines, fulfilling our workloads, and running from place to place, task to task, person to person. Our loving and merciful God freely gives us twenty-four hours, 1,440 minutes each and every day. Ought we not take the time to stop and ponder what Pentecost can mean for us? More specifically, can I carve out some time each day to reflect on the gifts God freely showers upon me through His Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in our lives, specifically through the gifts the Spirit offers to us. A generous and loving God has bestowed these gifts upon you and me, so we would do well to recall what they are.

Rooted in the Scriptures and the tradition of the Church, the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are spiritual graces given to help Christians live a life pleasing to God. We may have learned about them as: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Some time ago, I discovered fitting definitions for each of these gifts, and they are worth sharing. May the following explanation bring a renewed gratitude for these gifts in our lives as they help us grow in our relationship with God. May we always continue to grow in our awareness of these gifts and how they empower us in our daily lives:

• Wisdom helps one see the world in a new light, namely from with the eyes of God and from His point of view.
• Understanding helps one grasp the meaning and significance of God’s teachings and laws, leading to a deeper appreciation for them.
• Counsel, also known as right judgement, enables one to make wise choices, guiding persons to discern the right path and avoid mistakes.
• Fortitude, also known as courage, provides the strength to face challenges, overcome fear, and stand firm in faith even in difficult circumstances.
• Knowledge grants one a deeper understanding of God’s love, mercy and goodness, leading to a more intimate relationship with Him.
• Piety, also known as reverence, inspires a deep respect and reverence for God, enabling one to pray with sincerity and love.
• Fear of the Lord fills one with a sense of wonder and awe at God’s greatness and majesty, encouraging us to obedience and humility.

The Feast of Pentecost in our Liturgical Year is a constant reminder that we are not alone in our sojourn on this earth. The gifts of the Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles to go forth and spread the Good News. They were strengthened to encounter opposition, rejection, sacrifice, even death to fulfill their missionary call.

We in 2025 are beneficiaries of their commitment as we, too, respond to God’s call to be “missionary disciples” today. The Word of God is alive and active in the world. It is now up to us to follow the promptings of the Spirit.

With the Gifts of the Spirit, St. Paul reminds us that we have also received the fruits of the Spirit. St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians states that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”(Gal. 5:22-23}

Once again, we are to consider how these can be enfleshed in our daily encounters! These gifts and fruits are to be shared, as St. Paul reminds the people of Corinth – and us – “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7)

Pentecost is also a reminder that prayer is key for the Holy Spirit to enter into our lives. A prayer addressed to the Holy Spirit, which I recently found, may be a source of encouragement as we recall the gifts of the Spirit we have received and continue to receive in our faith life:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of each person in your family

Help each of us become aware of God’s presence in our lives.

Empower us to act as people who know God as their friend and companion. Form our attitudes towards God and all God’s creation.

Gift us with wisdom, Lord, so we will appreciate your gift of life.

Gift us with understanding, Lord, so we will live by your word.

Gift us with knowledge, Lord, so we will know your teaching.

Gift us with right judgement, Lord, so we will choose the right way out. Gift us with courage, Lord, so we will have the strength

to face every obstacle to your way. Gift us with reverence, Lord, so we will value and respect the traditions that bond us to you.

Gift us with wonder and awe, Lord, so we will show others our gratitude for the plan for our lives, your loving care for all of us.

God, we are your family.

Help us build up the kingdom of God with joyful enthusiasm in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.