May 19, 2002

When Saint Paul came across some people in the Turkish town of Ephesus who believed in Jesus, they told him," we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul baptized and confirmed them (Acts 19). In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit completes his work begun in Baptism, which washes away original sin, by placing ("infusing" or "sealing") seven gifts in the soul. These help live the Christian life by perfecting the virtues.

God does everything for a purpose. Four of the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" perfect the intellectual virtues. The purpose of the gift of UNDERSTANDING is to give an intuitive and penetrating perception of truth. WISDOM perfects love, by enabling a right appreciation of how God's love works. KNOWLEDGE, by discerning the divine plan in events, perfects the virtue of hope. COUNSEL increases prudence.

Those four gifts, then, perfect the virtues pertaining to the intellect. The intellect is one element of the soul. Three other gifts perfect the other part of the soul which is the will. The gift of PIETY perfects the virtue of justice by helping us give to others what is properly theirs, refining our relations with others and most especially with God. FORTITUDE strengthens ordinary courage in the face of dangers. . FEAR OF THE LORD perfects the virtue of temperance by disciplining unruly desires and destructive appetites. It aims our temper against evil and helps avoid losing our temper.

One could live a virtuous life without the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. So we have the noble pagan of antiquity and the high-minded humanitarians of our culture. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit move the soul from philanthropy to sanctity, transforming the human being into something very like God himself. There is one God, but he can work through his sons and daughters who make themselves available to his gifts.

A toaster is not must good unless it is plugged in. A car gets nowhere unless the ignition is turned on. The day is not eventful until you get out of bed. These homely metaphors are reminders that we need the Holy Spirit. Many earnest people are like those disciples in Ephesus who believed in Jesus but did not know there is a Holy Spirit. Parishes can lapse back into that ignorance, which is worse that starting out ignorant. Frequent confession and communion help keep the Seven Gifts alive. And when they are alive, they can change the whole neighborhood, city and all of civilization.

One of St. Paul's successors, a bishop, will confirm parishioners this Sunday, and will give our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to some of our young ones for the first time. This should enliven the whole parish.

Fr. George W. Rutler