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In this Tree of Jesse the seven gifts, represented as doves, encircle a bust of Christ. Capuchin's Bible, c. 1180, BnF, Paris

The Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are gifts which Catholics and Anglicans believe the Holy Spirit gives to further their sanctification. These gifts, enumerated (approximately) in Isa 11:2-3,[1] are:

• Wisdom - Like having "God Goggles" King Solomon had the greatest wisdom known to man kind.
• Understanding - Plainly put as common sense, "whereby self-evident principles are known." [2]
• Right Judgement - Also known as "Counsel." The gift of being able to pick between good and evil.
• Fortitude - Courage.
• Knowledge - Being able to know the path you are on and to be able to stay on Christ's path.
• Piety - Kindness, being able to keep peace.
• Fear of the Lord - Wonder and awe in God, not fear, but reverence and love for Christ. (sometimes described as a "Fear of Disappointing the Lord")

Theologians consider them to be supernatural and permanent qualities given by God that are magnified after the Sacrament of Confirmation; that make a person to be attentive to the voice of God; that render one susceptible to the workings of actual grace; that make one love the things of God; and that, consequently, render one more obedient and docile to the inspirations of the Holy Ghost.^[1] The seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Courage, Knowledge, Reverence, and Fear of the Lord.

In some respects they are similar to the virtues but a key distinction is that the virtues operate under the impetus of human reason (prompted by grace), whereas the gifts operate under the impetus of the Holy Spirit; the former can be used when one wishes, but the latter operate only when the Holy Spirit wishes.^[2] The former are like the oars of a boat; the latter, the sails.^{[citation needed]}

Another related but distinct notion are the spiritual gifts that St. Paul describes in, for example, 1 Cor 12-14, which are, by contrast, given for the upbuilding of others. These are also part of the Catholic tradition but more commonly known as charisms or charismata.^[1]

In Summa Theologica II.2, Thomas Aquinas asserts the following correspondences between the seven Capital Virtues and the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit:[3]

The seven gifts were often represented as doves in Medieval art, and especially figure in depictions of the Tree of Jesse which shows the Genealogy of Jesus. In many such depictions the doves encircle a bust of Christ.

In the Catholic Sacrament of Confirmation, Candidates may be asked to write a summary on each of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and apply those articles to individuals that they think model the Gift. The use of this project is commonly used in Catholic Grade Schools. This is not necessarily a requirement for Confirmation, but many Catholic Grade schools and religious education programs assign a project for candidates of Confirmation.

1. ^ ^{a b} "Holy Ghost". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1910).
2. ^ Aumann, Jordan (1980). Spiritual Theology. Sheed and Ward. 

This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.

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°72.198.66.209 22:08, 24 March 2007 (UTC)