According to St. Thomas Aquinas the gifts of the Holy Spirit dispose us to obey divine influence and inspiration, whereas the virtues enable us to carry out the works of this obedience.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit can be compared to the sails of a boat. Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD, wrote: “Just as the ship, by means of its sails, can be driven by the wind, so our souls, by means of the gifts, have the capacity to be moved and directed by the Holy Spirit.

“If a mariner sets the sails on his boat, he intends to move it not only by rowing, but also by the force of the wind. In like manner, when God infuses the gifts of the Holy Spirit into our souls, He wishes them to advance, not only by an active practice of the virtues, but also by the intervention of the Holy Spirit.”

One catechism points out: “The gifts of the Holy Spirit enable us to catch the breath of the Holy Spirit, moving the ship of our soul much faster and farther than we could ever sail it by using the virtues ourselves.”

“For example, we can use the virtue of faith by making an act of faith. But to use this virtue constantly, being aware of God’s presence in us and about us at all times, is more than we can do ourselves unless the Holy Spirit does it in us.”

Just as the teachings in elementary school prepare a student for higher forms of instruction, so the seven gifts prepare the soul for the higher influence of the Holy Spirit.

Father Gabriel reminds us: “(The gifts) are the sails of the soul, but these sails can be let down, weighted by our egoism, our self-love, and attachment to ourselves and to creatures. Charity, on the contrary, frees them from every impediment and turns them toward the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit. The more open and full the sails are, the better they will be able to receive the least impulse of the divine Paraclete.” 

The gifts of the Holy Spirit help us to practise virtues. The results of exercising virtues are the beatitudes and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Father Adolphe Tanquerey, author of The Spiritual Life, defined the fruits of the Holy Spirit as “acts of virtue which reach a certain degree of perfection and fill the soul with holy joy.”

Father Francis Fernandez, author of the daily meditations series In Conversation with God, points out that the first three fruits – love (charity), joy, and peace – are signs of the glory of God.

According to Father Fernandez, patience and longanimity are important in the apostolate.

“Longanimity is like patience. It is a stable disposition by which we wait serenely, without complaint or bitterness and for as long as God wishes the deferrals willed or permitted by Him, before we reach the ascetic or apostolic targets which we set ourselves.”

“In the apostolate the patient person always has high targets, to the measure of God’s Will, although the immediate results may seem small, and uses all the human and supernatural means available, with a holy persistence and constancy.”

Kindness brings effectiveness to the apostolate. A spiritual writer taught that “kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning; and these three last have never converted anyone, unless they were kind also.”

Father Fernandez points out that benignity, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, modesty, continence, and chastity are fruits more directly related to our neighbour’s welfare.

We should desire good for others and strive to bring it about. In our dealing with others, gentleness, faithfulness, and temperance are very important.

The last three fruits – modesty, continence, and chastity – are related to the virtue of temperance. Father Fernandez points out that “modesty is attractive because it bespeaks simplicity and inner order.”


聖神賜給我們七恩與果實

聖多瑪斯指出:「聖神七恩」幫助我們易於遵從超性的感召,而德行則幫助我們把所遵從的,付諸行動。 

聖神七恩」有如船隻的風帆。赤足聖衣會會士佳播神父指出:船隻靠風帆藉風力而前進,我們的靈魂也靠聖神之恩,讓聖神指引和推動。航海員不獨利用櫓槳行舟,同時依靠風力,讓船隻加速前行;同樣,在修德的路上,天主傾注聖神七恩於我們的靈魂,是要我們不單靠實踐德行,也靠聖神的介入而前進。

本教理書解釋:「聖神之恩讓我們接受聖神的氣息(風),驅使我們靈魂的船隻行得更快、更遠,勝於單靠己力來修德。

又譬如,我們可用信德去發出信仰的熱情。但要不斷地用此信德,時時刻刻意認到天主的臨在,我們不能單靠己力,而要依靠聖神在我們內工作。

正如小學的課程是為準備學生能接受更高深的課程而設,「聖神七恩」也準備我們更深入地接受聖神的教化。

若望.赫頓神父又教導,為接納聖神賜予聖善的思想和願望,我們應時常準備回應天主的聖寵。佳播神父提點著我們:雖然聖神七恩是我們超性生命的風帆,但我們的自負自利、追逐私慾和世俗,足以壓制這風帆;相反,愛德能剔除風帆的障礙,讓風帆迎向聖神的柔風。風帆越開越廣,就越能接受師保聖神最柔和的推動。

聖神七恩」幫助我們修德,而修德的效果就是真福八端和聖神的果實。 

方濟.法蘭特神父指出,仁愛、喜樂、平安,是標誌著天主的光榮。法蘭特神父認為,忍耐和堅毅,在傳教使命上十分重要:堅毅就如忍耐,恆長地棄絕自己,安心承行天主聖意,無悔無怨,直至完成被委予的使命。堅忍的人,無視傳教的蠅效嫩果,只一心遵從天主的聖意,堅持更高的理念,竭盡心神,不半途而廢。

良善亦有助傳教事工。良善比熱誠、能言和有學識,更能感化罪人;就是說:熱誠、雄才偉略的人,若要感化罪人,仍需良善之心。

法蘭特神父指出,溫和、善行、良善、忠信、謙虛、節制及貞潔,直接與為謀求他人裨益有關。我們為近人著想,不單在心中渴求他們會得到善,也會盡力以行動去成就。在與人交往時,溫良、忠信和節制是非常重要的。

謙虛、節制及貞潔,都與節制有關。 法蘭特神父補充說:「端莊是具有吸引力的,因為它接引着倡導著純樸和內在的秩序。