gifts of the Spirit

dublin_christ_church_cathedral_passage_to_synod_hall_window_seven_gifts_of_the_holy_spirit_2012_09_26
Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Dublin Christ Church Cathedral, by Andreas F. Borchert

Lord Jesus, as God’s Spirit came down and rested upon you,
May the same Spirit rest on us,
Bestowing his sevenfold gifts.

First, grant us the gift of understanding,
  By which your precepts may enlighten our minds.
Second, grant us counsel, by which we may follow
  in your footsteps on the path of righteousness.
Third, grant us courage,
  by which we may ward off the enemy’s attacks.
Fourth, grant us knowledge,
  by which we can distinguish good from evil.
Fifth, grant us piety,
  by which we may acquire compassionate hearts.
Sixth, grant us fear,
  by which we may draw back from evil
  and submit to what is good.
Seventh, grant us wisdom,
  that we may taste fully the life-giving sweetness of your love.

St. Bonaventure, 1217-74, Italian scholastic theologian and philosopher

 ___________________

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
      yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
      the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
   the Spirit of counsel and might,
      the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
He will delight in obeying the Lord.

One thought on “gifts of the Spirit

  1. This prayer ministered to me this morning. It captured my need and desire. And I love the way that the Isaiah passage so well complemented the prayer.

    Like

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