Sacrament Of ConfirmationSample

Understanding

“The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon Christians are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.” (CCC1845)

The gift of understanding enables us to grasp the meaning of God’s message and to empathise with the people we meet.  It gives us a greater appreciation of the dignity of the human person and the created world.  It helps us to get to the heart of what it means to believe in God and live a Christian life.  Again you will see that the gift of understanding is not dependent on academic ability, although it can aid and assist us with this gift.

So how do we grow in understanding?  Firstly, we must ask the Lord for a greater release of the gift within us and to grow our desire for the gift.  We can take time reading and studying the scriptures, the documents of the Church and other faithful writings.  Over the centuries many people have prayerfully discerned the message of God and there is much we can learn by reading their discoveries.  We can also spend time listening to people, listening to their stories and caring for those in need.  Our understanding of one another is a much overlooked skill in modern Western society and yet it is an essential spiritual skill.

Understanding sits comfortably with the theological virtue of charity (or love), “By charity, we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God. Charity, the form of all the virtues, "binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col 3:14). (CCC1844)