Wisdom - Saying and doing what is right and true, without fear or favor.
Wisdom in the Bible:
I Kings 3:16-28
II Kings 5:1-14
Matthew 8:5-13
Understanding - Being able to see things from the other person's point of view, and being able to see all aspects of a question, and having an appreciation for cause and effect.
Understanding in the Bible:
Mark 2:1-12
Ruth 1:3-18
Luke 10:38-42
Counsel (Right Judgement) - Knowing what to say to people when they are in difficult circumstances, and knowing how to deal with difficult people.
Counsel in the Bible:
Acts 5:17, 27-39
Acts 8:26-38
Daniel 13:15-62
Knowledge - An awareness of the world, and how its parts fit together.
Knowledge in the Bible:
Matthew 22:23-33
Luke 10:25-28
Genesis 41:15-36
Fortitude (Courage) - The ability to face and overcome our fears, and the ability to plow through difficulties without giving up hope.
Fortitude in the Bible
Acts 4:1-22
Acts 9:10-19
Piety (Reverence) - Loyalty and faithfulness to God, and the ability to change our behaviour and our opinions based on what we learn about God from the Church.
Piety in the Bible:
Acts 16:16-34
Acts 2:43-47
Fear of the Lord - An awareness that God alone deserves our trust and our awe, and that human beings who wish to frighten us into doing what is against God's will cannot really hurt us, as long as we are obedient to God, since He will take care of us, and even if such people were to kill us, they can only kill the body: God will carry us into Heaven if they do.
Fear of the Lord in the Bible:
Proverbs 19:23
Job 1:13-22
Exodus 3:4-6
Luke 5:12 - 14
The Holy Spirit gives us these gifts, but a gift that lies on the table without ever being unwrapped does us no good.
Make good use of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given you, by following the example of Jesus, and of the heros and Saints we read about in the Bible.
Love
I John 4:16
I John 3:18
I Corinthians 13:4-7
Joy
Psalm 16:11
Psalm 30:11-12
John 15:11
Peace
Isaiah 11:9
I Corinthians 7:15
Colossians 3:15
Patience
I Thessalonians 5:14
Sirach 29:8
James 5:7-8
Kindness
Zechariah 7:9-10
Matthew 25:34-36
Proverbs 21:21
Generosity
Matthew 5:42
Luke 6:38
Matthew 10:8
Faithfulness
Luke 16:10
Proverbs 28:20
Sirach 6:14-15
Gentleness
I Peter 3:4
Proverbs 15:4
Mark 9:36-37
Self-Control
I Corinthians 9:25
Proverbs 25:28
Proverbs 30:33
When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and is active within us, we show evidence of it by these "fruits".
If fruit grows on a tree, but no one ever harvests it, it just rots on the tree, but if it is harvested, it can be used in many ways to enhance people's enjoyment of their food.
In the same way, we must harvest the Fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives and use them fully to enhance our spiritual lives.
BACK to St. Pius X Junior High, Saturday Morning Religion Class