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20110425 The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit 聖神七恩

During Lent we explored the moral virtues, and now during Easter season we are going to explore the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is especially in the sacrament of confirmation that we receive the infusion of these heavenly gifts into our souls.
According to St. Thomas Aquinas the gifts dispose us to obey divine influence and inspiration, whereas the virtues enable us to carry out the works of this obedience.
Sails of the soul
The gifts 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.
Mind and will
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
The gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and knowledge enlighten the understanding. “They tend to remove from the soul that black cloud of ignorance with which sin has darkened our understanding.”
The gifts of fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord strengthen the will. “They serve to heal the wounds inflicted by sin in the human will, to extinguish the fire of concupiscence, and to enable us to walk with courage and fidelity in the way of the divine commandments.”
Author Father John Hardon, SJ, points out that the Holy Spirit is constantly acting on our minds and wills by His actual grace. These divine visitations are called “holy thoughts” and “holy desires.”
Holy thoughts, or illuminations of the mind, are momentary insights we receive from the Holy Spirit, whereas holy desires, or inspirations of the will, are momentary impulses we receive from Him.
Father Hardon teaches us that the secret of responding to holy thoughts and desires is to keep ourselves ever ready to say “yes” to the graces sent by God.
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.”

「四旬期」,我們探討了有關德行,在「復活期」,我們談談「聖神七恩」。特別在領受「堅振聖事」時,聖神天恩就傾注在我們的靈魂內。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。

靈魂的風帆

「聖神七恩」有如船隻的風帆。赤足聖衣會會士佳播神父寫道:「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。」

一本教理書解釋:「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。

理志和意志

「聖神七恩」是:敬畏、孝愛、聰敏、剛毅、超見、明達、上智。

聰敏、超見、明達、上智,能光照我們的明悟和理解,「能驅走無知的烏雲,和因罪惡籠罩著我們明悟的陰霾。」敬畏、孝愛、剛毅,能堅強我們的意志和力量,「治療我們犯罪造成的創傷,熄滅我們的私慾偏情,使我們更有勇力在天主誡命下,貞忠地前進。」

耶穌會會士若望.赫頓神父指出,在天主的寵祐中,聖神不斷地在我們的理志和意志作工,衍生聖善的思想和願望。

聖善的思想,是來自聖神的光照,讓我們瞬間有所領悟或洞悉。聖善的願望,是來自聖神的啟迪,讓我們瞬間接收到祂的驅使。

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。」