Day 19: Gift of knowledge (Gift of the Holy Spirit) 

Romans 12:2 Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

St. Thomas Aquinas observes that the Gift of Knowledge corresponds to the Theological Virtue of Faith.  Many of his time probably saw knowledge like we do, as something acquired, and not as a gift.  That’s certainly true for acquiring information, but Aquinas suggests knowledge is something more.  He points out that knowledge consists of a sure and right judgment about what is or is not to be believed.  This involves the truths of our faith, but also how created things correspond with those truths or not.  

Let us try asking ourselves: am I open to the action of the Holy Spirit? Do I pray to Him to give me illumination, to make me more sensitive to God’s things? – Pope Francis, General Audience during Year of Faith, May 15, 2013.

Philippians 1:9-10 And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

St. Francis of Assisi initially did not want members of his fledgling order to engage in sacred studies, preferring the early Franciscans to embrace poverty and serving with and among the poor, in part worried that they would lose faith through an over-focus on reason.  Upon witnessing St. Anthony of Padua and his assiduous study of Scripture that seemed to strengthen his faith and those around him, St. Francis approved study for Franciscans, saying “It pleases me that you should teach sacred theology to the brothers as long as–in the words of the rule–you do not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion with study of this kind.”  

What are our sources of knowledge?  How could we ensure they are sources for us to grow in knowledge about God?  How can we let the Holy Spirit nourish our minds to see God’s presence in secular things?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask you to renew our minds so that we may receive anew this gift of Knowledge.  May the Holy Spirit transform our minds to discern Your presence in all things this week to know how to live like Christ and be known by the same Christ our Lord.

• Litany of the Holy Spirit
• 500 Praises to the Holy Spirit (Pray a few of them as you can)
• Loving Brothers, Beloved Saints: Francis and Anthony | Franciscan Media

Contributed by: Fr. Justin