- Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turned to ill.
The Gift of Understanding
Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Ghost, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion. By faith we know them, but by Understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them. It enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through them to be quickened to newness of life. Our faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith that is in us; we begin to "walk worthy of God in all things pleasing, and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.
- Our Father, Hail Mary ONCE
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES
On my knees | before the great multitude of Heavenly witnesses | I offer myself, soul and body | to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. | I adore the brightness of Thy purity | the unerring keenness of Thy justice | and the might of Thy love. | Thou art the Strength | and Light of my soul. | In Thee I live and move and am. | I desire never to grieve Thee | by unfaithfulness to grace | and I pray with all my heart | to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. |Mercifully guard my every thought | and grant that I may always watch for Thy light | and listen to Thy voice | and follow Thy gracious inspirations. | I cling to Thee | and give myself to Thee | and ask Thee _ by Thy compassion | to watch over me in my weakness. | Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus | and looking at His Five Wounds | and trusting in His Precious Blood | and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart | I implore Thee, | Adorable Spirit, | Helper of my infirmity, | so to keep me in Thy grace | that I may never sin against Thee. | Give me grace | O Holy Ghost, | Spirit of the Father and the Son | to say to Thee always and everywhere | "Speak, Lord, | for Thy servant heareth." Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ | Who, before ascending into Heaven | didst promise to send the Holy Ghost | to finish Thy work | in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples | deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me | that He may perfect in my soul | the work of Thy grace and Thy love. | Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom | that I may despise the perishable things of this world | and aspire only after the things | that are eternal, | the Spirit of Understanding | to enlighten my mind | with the light of Thy divine truth, | the Spirit of Counsel | that I may ever choose | the surest way of pleasing God | and gaining Heaven, | the Spirit of Fortitude | that I may bear my cross with Thee | and that I may overcome with courage | all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, | the Spirit of Knowledge | that I may know God and know myself | and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, | the Spirit of Piety | that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, | the Spirit of Fear | that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God | and may dread in any way to displease Him. | Mark me, dear Lord | with the sign of Thy true disciples | and animate me in all things | with Thy Spirit. Amen.
The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must be done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants, and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all things, pray to the Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth."