At baptism, God freely gave us the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. These virtues orient us to the Father and equip us to live in relationship with Him. They empower us to believe Him, to trust Him, and to share in His own love. The gifts make us docile and open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The theological virtue of faith gives us the grace to know God, to believe Him, and to believe all that He has revealed. Just stop and think about this truth. God has given us the ability to know and believe all He has revealed about Himself. Additionally, He has infused into our hearts the gifts of the Holy Spirit to deepen our knowledge and understanding.

The gift of knowledge guides us in knowing what to believe and how to share it with others. It is rooted in faith, and from this firm foundation, gives us the ability to look at the world and see all of creation as God’s handiwork. It opens our eyes to see the Creator manifested in His creation.   Understanding the effects of the gift in your life is one way of knowing if you responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The effects of the gift of knowledge

  • Discerns the relation of created things to one’s heavenly goal
  • Sees God’s divine attributes reflected in created realities
  • Knows what to believe and how to share it with others
  • Give certitude in matters of the practice of the Faith
  • Instills confidence in the pursuit of truth, both the truths of faith and of science

So how does this apply to our daily lives? The next time you have a fruitful conversation about all you believe as a Christian—thank the Holy Spirit. Or when you praise God for the wonders of His creation and “see” His providential loving hand in your life—thank the Holy Spirit.  When you experience an inner conviction and confidence in all you know and believe—thank the Holy Spirit. When you share your beliefs in truth and love—thank the Holy Spirit.   

I invite you to spend time reading and meditating about the encounter of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch found in Acts chapter 8, as it is a riveting example of the presence of the Holy Spirit. To guide your meditation, feel free to download this Lectio Divina worksheet—it’s an excerpt from our book Who is the Holy Spirit? , which specifically walks you through reflecting on Acts 8:26-40.

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