Be Sealed With the Gift of the Holy Spirit

In the sacrament of Confirmation, we hear these words, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” Through Confirmation, we are awakened to the power of the Spirit within our lives.

All of us need the Holy Spirit in our lives. Our world is filled with all types of temptations towards sins of all types and we need the Holy Spirit to help us through each day.

There are 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit as identified in scripture (Isaiah (11:1-3)).

• Fear of the Lord. Respect for God, our Creator, and the desire not to offend Him.
• Piety. Also known as reverence, we honor and worship God our Father.
• Fortitude. EWTN’s Mother Angelica refers to this one as strength and guts. It is the strength to do good and to endure suffering.
• Counsel. Often referred to as our ‘conscience’, it is our ability to discern right from wrong.
• Knowledge. This refers to our ability to reason things through, make the correct decision and act accordingly.
• Understanding. Our ability to know the “truth.” This gift can help us to better interpret the meaning of scripture and how to apply it to our own lives.
• Wisdom. This refers to our ability to reason through our thoughts and beliefs and to accept the “truth” presented to us by God.

How well do you accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? All of our individual talents are also gifts from the Holy Sprit given to help us serve the needs of others. Do we use them for their intended purpose?

Pray today and everyday for the gifts of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Christ Jesus, before ascending into heaven,
You promised to send the
Holy Spirit to Your apostles and disciples.
Grant that the same Spirit may perfect in our lives
the work of Your grace and love.
Grant us the Spirit of Fear Of The Lord that we may be
filled with a loving reverence toward You.
the Spirit of Piety that we may find peace and fulfillment
in the service of God while serving others;
the Spirit of Fortitude that we may bear our cross with You
and, with courage, overcome the obstacles
that interfere with our salvation;
the Spirit of Knowledge that we may know You and know
ourselves and grow in holiness;
the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten our minds with
the light of Your truth;
the Spirit of Counsel that we may choose the surest way
of doing Your will, seeking first the Kingdom;
Grant us the Spirit of Wisdom that we may aspire to the
things that last forever;
Teach us to be Your faithful disciples and animate us in
every way with Your Spirit.
Amen.