Don Dolindo on the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
As one can see, there are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; the very same which with greater or less intensity descend on the Christian soul when it receives the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. Becoming a member of Jesus Christ through Baptism, the soul participates in the very gifts which He possesses in their wonderful fullness.
Why Seven?
One may ask: Why are there seven gifts? There are seven, because these correspond to the seven principal needs and activities of the supernatural life of the soul. There are seven, because they are opposed to the seven capital sins; because being seven states of life, they are opposed to seven states of death. The soul which is the living temple of the Most Holy Trinity has, so to say, lighted in itself a seven-branched candlestick, has in its powers an adoring hierarchy, like that of the seven celestial spirits, who stand before the throne of God.
The Need for the Seven Gifts
The soul, in fact, has need to know how to learn about and taste divine things, in order to be attracted to and love the Lord more, and behold the gift of Wisdom which enables it to perceive and savor the revealed truths. It has need of deepening and penetrating them in order to find hidden treasures and mysterious harmonies — and behold the gift of Understanding. It has need of applying these to each exigency of the interior life — and behold the gift of Counsel. It has need to profess, in high profile and against all opposition, the truths which it knows — and behold the gift of Fortitude.
Living on earth, the soul requires that created things not be an obstacle to those divine and eternal; rather it is necessary that by the former, the soul be lifted up to God, considering them in their relation with God — and. behold the gift of Knowledge. The soul has need like a daughter to open herself tenderly to God and rejoice in glorifying Him in all things — and behold the gift of Godliness. Loving God with holy intimacy and familiarity, the soul must not become forgetful of His majesty, nor His justice — and behold the gift of the Fear of the Lord.
Fearing God, the soul humbles herself in His sight, and conquers pride which flares up against Him. Opening herself to God as a daughter, the soul regards Him as supreme good and conquers avarice which, in disorderly fashion, attracts her to the goods of earth. Lifting herself up from the things of earth to those of Heaven, the soul abhors the disorder of lust which immerses one in the most putrid mire of earthly things. The soul conquers anger with fortitude of the spirit. She conquers gluttony tasting heavenly things, in not taking as goal of life immoderate satisfaction from eating and drinking. The soul conquers envy, considering the image of God in one’s neighbour, and loving in God the bestowal of goods of nature and of grace. The soul conquers boredom, because knowing God, she senses the ardour of her own heart and feels the need to glorify, to love, to pray, and to converse with Him.
The Seven-Branched Candlestick
By means of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the soul is like a candlestick with seven branches and seven lamps which burn before the Most Holy Trinity dwelling in it. The lamp is a light shining in the darkness which makes possible the vision of objects. And the gifts of the Holy Spirit are supernatural lights of the soul which enlighten its powers, and so render them docile to the promptings of grace and to the interior awareness of God’s designs. In accord with the particular mission God assigns to each soul, one gift rather than another will be more in evidence.
–Don Dolindo Ruotolo (“Come, Holy Spirit”)
