| The Gift of Understanding Gives Us Clearer Insight Into the Mysteries of Our Faith |
At our Living Jesus Chat Room this Sunday we will be talking about a letter written by Saint Francis de Sales to Saint Jane de Chantal, written from Annecy on June 15, 1609.A contextual note about the letter: It was customary in the Visitation to draw lots at Whitsun [Pentecost] for the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Mother Chantal had written from Paris on 7 June 1620: ‘Divine Providence has decided on the gift of understanding for you this year . . . counsel fell to my lot.’ (Works, Vol. 4, p. 423.)To prepare for our chat, please read the article, which is reproduced below, and review the questions at the end.Click for Living Jesus Chatroom  Image by Joe from PixabayO that I may receive and use the gift of understanding as I ought, my very dear Mother, so as to get a clearer and deeper insight into the holy mysteries of our faith! For this intelligence has a marvelous power to subject the will to God’s service; our understanding is committed to him and plunged in him, recognizing him as wonderfully and perfectly good. And as the mind ceases to think anything else good in comparison with this Goodness, so too the will can no longer desire or love any goodness in comparison with this Goodness, even as when our eyes look deep into the sun we can no longer see any other light.But because we can only show our love in this world by doing good, because our love must act in some way, as I shall say in my sermon tomorrow, please God, we need counsel so as to see what we ought to do to put this love which presses us into practice; for it is heavenly love itself which urges us on to do good. And the Holy Ghost gives us his gift of counsel so that we may find out how to do good, which good to choose and in what way to express our love in action. So we can say that our soul shares in good measure in heaven’s sacred gifts.May the Holy Ghost show us favor and ever be our consolation. My soul and spirit adore him for all eternity! I entreat him always to be our wisdom and our understanding, our counsel, our fortitude, our knowledge, our piety; and may he fill us with the spirit of the fear of the eternal Father.The holy feast of Whitsun for which you have such a very special devotion did not pass without constant remembrance of you. Reflections: What is the gift of understanding? How is it different from the gifts of counsel, knowledge, and wisdom?How can the gift of understanding help us submit to the will of God?If there are certain gifts we receive from the Holy Spirit, why do we sometimes seem to not have those gifts? Do we have to unlock them, nurture them, or something else?Can someone do good without the Holy Spirit?How can we build a relationship with the Holy Spirit? How can we see him as a person, and not just some ethereal being or force?The Modern Catholic Dictionary, by Fr. John Hardon, S.J., defines understanding thus: “In scholastic philosophy, knowledge that is immediate and undemonstrated; intimate knowledge that penetrates to the essence of that which is known.” How can we be more open to the movements of the Holy Spirit so that we know the truth of a situation that perplexes us?If you had a choice to receive a greater degree of one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which would you prefer? (They are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.) Sign up for our Living Jesus Chat Room:Come to our Living Jesus Chat Room, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern Time U.S. this Sunday . Seats are limited, so come on time. Share with others who are journeying the same path as you. |