- Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray!
Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of Wisdom it is written "all good things come to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands." It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, whilst the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior: "Take up thy cross and follow me, for my yoke is sweet and my burden light."
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. 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 gifts of the Holy Ghost perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Ghost, our service becomes more sincere and generous, the practice of virtue becomes more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Ghost. These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God, to serve Whom is to reign.