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.)
q What is the gift of understanding? How is it different from the gifts of counsel, knowledge, and wisdom?
Feb 9, 4:34 PM
Carol (Guest): Is understanding when you take the other three into your heart?
Feb 9, 4:35 PM
Simone (Guest): I looked it up a little bit..just before the chat.. and from what I read.. it seems that understanding allows us to understand more the mystical side of our faith
Feb 9, 4:35 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes it does refer to faith
eb 9, 4:35 PM
Simone (Guest): I think the difference is.. well maybe.. that understanding is related to God.. whereas the other three are more related to other people
ShareFeb 9, 4:36 PMCarol (Guest): Because there is a whole realm we can’t experience physically
Feb 9, 4:36 PMSimone (Guest): yes… my parents are in this realm now
eb 9, 4:37 PM
Carol (Guest): When I made my permanent vow I had a very strong sense my parents were there
Feb 9, 4:38 PM
Simone (Guest): It is so interesting.. when my Mom passed away.. it did not feel like that at all.. but now with my Dad gone.. I truly feel, he is watching over me.. and all of a sudden I have the feeling of having parents again..
eb 9, 4:38 PMSimone (Guest): that is lovely Carol.. I would not be surprised at all. when the love of God that was expressed in these vows has connected you with their eternal love now
Feb 9, 4:40 PM
Carol (Guest): I did not see them or hear them speak but they were there
Feb 9, 4:40 PM
Simone (Guest): My parents were not really “into God and the church”.. and it hurt often.. but now I feel we can share this love all together
eb 9, 4:40 PM
Simone (Guest): that is so lovely Carol, that you have such a beautiful conviction – very meaningful
Feb 9, 4:41 PM
Carol (Guest): Its a very long story why i think that. Maybe some day
eb 9, 4:43 PMSrSusan (Guest): I think these q’s apply somewhat: 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?
Feb 9, 4:43 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): Hi everyone.
Feb 9, 4:43 PM
Simone (Guest): Hi Rhodylyn
Feb 9, 4:44 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Hi!
Feb 9, 4:45 PM
Carol (Guest): Hi Rhodylyn
Feb 9, 4:45 PM
Simone (Guest): these gifts.. as described in the “confirmation list” – are influenced I find by the way how close we live with God.. the more the Holy Spirit determines our inner world and our outer actions, the more these gifts will unfold I think
eb 9, 4:45 PM
Simone (Guest): It is a little bit different with Charisms I find.. although they also have to be spiritually initiated..
Feb 9, 4:45 PM
Carol (Guest): We can get distracted by the thoughts in our head, which often do not conform to what God wants
Feb 9, 4:47 PMRhodylyn (Guest): I think receiving the Sacraments continue to endow us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Feb 9, 4:47 PMSimone (Guest): good point
Carol (Guest): Yes, and strengthen the one we’ve already received
Feb 9, 4:48 PM
SrSusan (Guest): a gift is just that, a gift and we cannot call it on demand but we can pray for it
eb 9, 4:48 PMSimone (Guest): I think the gift is given at baptism.. from then on.. it is always there.. if we call on it
eb 9, 4:49 PMSrSusan (Guest): that’s true
eb 9, 4:49 PMRhodylyn (Guest): When we have an intimate relationship with Him we also become more charitable.
eb 9, 4:50 PM
Simone (Guest): which leads us to ” God is love”.. so when we have this intimate relationship with God.. love “oozes” out of us
Feb 9, 4:50 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Can someone do good without the Holy Spirit?H
Feb 9, 4:50 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): And charity is the highest of all virtues.
Feb 9, 4:51 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes, in some sense those people are responding to the Spirit deep within
Feb 9, 4:51 PM
Simone (Guest): my first reaction is yes. .. but often there is no eternal fruit of goodness that is not founded in the Holy Spirit
Feb 9, 4:52 PMRhodylyn (Guest): Some people do good for their own purpose. But true goodness must come from the Holy Spirit.
Feb 9, 4:53 PM
SrSusan (Guest): How can we build a relationship with the Holy Spirit?
Feb 9, 4:53 PM
Carol (Guest): By setting aside daily time for prayer and Scripture reading
Feb 9, 4:54 PM
Simone (Guest): When I think about it.. I find that it was always the Holy Spirit who initiated the next step in our relationship – I personally find that praise has a very good influence on my relationship with the Holy Spirit
Feb 9, 4:54 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): By remaining in the state of grace and by loving as God loves us.
Feb 9, 4:55 PM
Carol (Guest): A d gratitude
Feb 9, 4:55 PM
Simone (Guest): yes Carol
Feb 9, 4:55 PM
SrSusan (Guest): praying in tongues if one has that charismatic gift
Feb 9, 4:57 PMRhodylyn (Guest): I believe the Holy Spirit moves freely within us when we confess more often.
Feb 9, 4:57 PMSrSusan (Guest): Yes s omeone also told me that not too long ago
eb 9, 4:57 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): We begin to understand more things spiritual.
Feb 9, 4:57 PM
Carol (Guest): Because He has removed the clutter
Feb 9, 4:58 PMRhodylyn (Guest): The Holy Spirit is the Living Water that flows like a river in our soul. The more room , the more gifts.
Feb 9, 4:59 PM
SrSusan (Guest): How can we see him as a person, and not just some ethereal being or force?
Feb 9, 4:59 PM
Carol (Guest): I find that icons help me with this
Feb 9, 5:01 PMRhodylyn (Guest): I see the Holy Spirit as God Himself. We can pray to the Holy Spirit the same way we talk to God.
Feb 9, 5:02 PMSrSusan (Guest): 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?
Feb 9, 5:03 PM
Carol (Guest): That’s hard. I keep giving back situations that I cannot solve
Feb 9, 5:03 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I think we have sort of answered this in previous statements actually
Feb 9, 5:03 PM
SrSusan (Guest): tokeep praying, receive sacraments
Feb 9, 5:04 PM
SrSusan (Guest): but sometimes one remains perplexed
Feb 9, 5:04 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): Yes. The Holy Spirit moves that way.
Feb 9, 5:04 PMFeb 9, 5:04 PM
SrSusan (Guest): others can help perhaps if we share the problem
Feb 9, 5:05 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): I think having a spiritual director really helps
Feb 9, 5:05 PM
Carol (Guest): I try to limit that though because there are as many different answers as the number of people you ask
Feb 9, 5:06 PM
Carol (Guest): But a good Director is priceless
Feb 9, 5:06 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): The one guide who can help in discerning the Spirits. St Ignatius teaches us about this.
eb 9, 5:07 PM
SrSusan (Guest): can you explain
Feb 9, 5:08 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): It appears that when we can discern God’s Will for us, we know the Holy Spirit is the one inspiring us.
Feb 9, 5:09 PMRhodylyn (Guest): It’s like when we go through consolation and desolation.
Feb 9, 5:10 PMRhodylyn (Guest): In desolation we must not stop from our Spiritual Exercises. Just move on until we get clarity in whatever perplexed us.
Feb 9, 5:11 PM
SrSusan (Guest): this is a good way of proceeding
Feb 9, 5:11 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): God will infuse us with the understanding we need.
Feb 9, 5:12 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): Just keep on trusting.
Feb 9, 5:12 PM
Carol (Guest): And exactly when we need it, not a moment sooner
Feb 9, 5:13 PMSrSusan (Guest): I have been trying to tell someone about that, one step at a time
Feb 9, 5:13 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): We are all in a Spiritual battle and Courage is one thing we all need.
Feb 9, 5:14 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): Fortitude too.
Feb 9, 5:15 PM
Carol (Guest): We must remember always to unite ourselves to Him and not be afraid
Feb 9, 5:15 PM
SrSusan (Guest): 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.
Feb 9, 5:16 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): Fear of the Lord. More like filial fear.
Feb 9, 5:16 PM
Carol (Guest): Maybe fear of the Lord so thought of Him would always be first
Rhodylyn (Guest): So that I will make better judgments and remain humble.
Feb 9, 5:17 PM
SrSusan (Guest): earlier in the month I would have said wisdom but now, piety
eb 9, 5:17 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): Why the change?
Feb 9, 5:18 PM
SrSusan (Guest): the situation was resolved so now I want to grow in a different way towards a greater devotion
eb 9, 5:19 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): We learn piety from the saints.
Feb 9, 5:19 PM
SrSusan (Guest): yes good point
Feb 9, 5:20 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): I have a question. Are there books written bt St Margaret Alacoque on her conversations with the Sacred Heart?
Feb 9, 5:21 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes I guesss in her autobiography and some letters
Feb 9, 5:22 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): I recently joined the 1st Friday devotions praying the 9 offices.
Feb 9, 5:22 PM
SrSusan (Guest): do you have access to her writings
Feb 9, 5:23 PMRhodylyn (Guest): No. The Alliance of the Sacred Heart has the copy of the nine offices we use.
Feb 9, 5:24 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): I found a copy of that of St Mechtilde, The love of the Sacred Heart (1922)
Feb 9, 5:25 PM
SrSusan (Guest): we have some here- in boxes now for our move I can look
Feb 9, 5:25 PM
Rhodylyn (Guest): Oh Sister. Do share please.
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