We now move on to the final, the greatest three gifts of the Holy Spirit, and that is understanding, knowledge, and wisdom. These gifts deal more directly with speculative matters than practical, so we may think them less important in our day to day lives. However, just as contemplation of God is a greater good than action on his behalf (see the Gospel story of Martha and Mary), so too then gifts that dispose us to contemplation must be considered higher than gifts that dispose us to right action, important and as valuable and as life giving as those more "practical" gifts are. However, even though these gifts are not directly geared toward something practical, they can give us insights that will help us make better practical decisions, so we can, in a sense, say they are indirectly practical, in addition to being speculative.
These three words (understanding, knowledge, and wisdom) in common parlance can mean similar things, but they are distinct at least when discussing the gifts of the Spirit. We will begin today with understanding.
Here is the definition of understanding that I gave in my summary at the start of this series.
Understanding is indeed similar to wisdom, but slightly different. Understanding goes beyond just accepting and valuing the truths of the Faith, but it allows us, as it implies, to "understand" them a little bit, although that will be impossible to do 100% this side of eternity.
This gift gives us an intuitive certitude about some aspect of the Faith. It allows us to go beyond just assent to a truth that God has revealed (which is an aspect of the theological virtue of faith), to being certain of it. We see the truth with a level of clarity that is not possible on human effort alone. We see also how that truth fits in with all the other truths, and so, we see how the faith is a coherent, dynamic, harmonious, package. It keeps us from thinking of God in a human way. It also allows us to recognize when something that is said is not compatible with the truth.
This gift corresponds with the Beatitude that says "Blessed are the clean of heart for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). Faith helps us see and understand God as he truly is. This gift allows us to understand the Faith with more clarity and certitude. Therefore, it stands to reason that this gift will allow us to see God more clearly.
Here are the effects of this gift:
1) It discloses hidden meaning of Scriptures (i.e. symbols in the Old Testament as precursors of things in the New Testament [for example, Jonah three days in body of whale prefigures Jesus three days buried in the Earth]).
2) We can likewise see deeper meanings of the sensible things in the liturgy of the Church (i.e. we see a heavenly banquet, and Christ's Body and Blood at Mass).
3) It allows us to see causes and effects of God, saints, also the devil and his legions, and how they operate in the world.
4) It strengthens our faith.
5) It helps us to contemplate God, by seeing the truths of Faith as he sees it.
To dispose us to receive this gift, we can:
1) Prayer and practice mortification (which we have said is valuable to help one be disposed for all the gifts).
2) Work to become holier, so we can see the faith with more clarity.
3) Seek purity of soul and body; faith is easier to understand when our own lives are integrated.
4) Practice frequent interior recollection to quiet and focus our minds.
5) Make acts of faith (see prayer below for an example of one).
6) Study the faith (for example, commit to read a few paragraphs from the Catechism everyday.)
In the world today, we see many whose faith life is divorced, or not integrated with their overall life. For example, we see people who say they are Catholic, but vote to enact pro-abortion policies, or think it not a big deal to miss Mass on Sundays. The faith in them is something "cornered off" so to speak, and not, as we say, "stirred up" throughout their bodies and souls. And there are many who may live good Catholic lives, but who have a hard time explaining or defending the Faith. This is all evidence that this gift of understanding is not operating in the way it can be in the lives of many faithful.
Every single one of us, including this blogger, needs more of this gift of understanding operative in our life. As I stated above, making acts of faith can help us be more disposed to receive this gift. If we each said the below short prayer just once a day, I believe it could make a huge impact in having this gift more operative in our lives, and our lives would have more impact in the Church and in the world.
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that your Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths the Holy Catholic Church teaches because You have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
Joseph, light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
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