The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, empowering them to go and proclaim the Gospel to all the world. When our Lord promises the Holy Spirit, He calls him the “Paraclete, literally, he who is called to one’s side,” Paraclete is commonly translated as consoler, and Jesus is the first consoler. The Lord also called the Holy Spirit “the Spirit of truth.” (CCC-692)
“The term “Spirit” translates the Hebrew word ruah, which, in its primary sense, means breath, air, wind. On the other hand, “Spirit” and “Holy” are divine attributes common to the three divine persons. By joining the two terms, Scripture, liturgy, and theological language designate the inexpressible person of the Holy Spirit, without any possible equivocation with other uses of the terms “spirit” and “holy.” (CCC-691) The Holy Spirit is the breath of God living in us and guiding us as He guided our Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity. He is the love between God the Father and the Son.
Every baptized person is gifted with the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Holy Spirit is given to us in the sacrament of Confirmation. “The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.” (CCC-1831)
In Romans 8:26 St. Paul tells us, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to intercede for us, to guide us and sanctify us. “The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.” (CCC-1830)
The Holy Spirit, promised by our Lord Jesus, is present in every sacrament. The Sacraments were instituted by our Lord in order to continue His life on earth in the midst of us His children. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit who gives us His companionship in our life. The more docile we are to His inspiration and desires, the more He can perfect us through His grace, operating in us, to bear what the church calls fruits of the Spirit.
There are twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit, and they are “perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. the tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: “charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.” (CCC-1832)
My brothers and sisters I encourage you to grow in devotion to the Holy Spirit. Pray to Him, acknowledge and recognize Him, allow Him to guide and strengthen you, to give you wisdom and ask Him to fill you with His gifts, but above all, love Him, love Him, and love Him. There are many ways we can pray to the Holy Spirit, but I would like to leave you with this simple prayer:

“Holy Spirit, I love You with the Love of the Father, Holy Spirit, I love You with the Love of the Son, Holy Spirit, I love You with Your own Love. Holy Spirit, I love You with Your Will. Come and fill me with the fire of Your love. Come, Holy Spirit, come, and fill me with the fire of Your love through the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your well-beloved spouse. Amen.”

I entrust each one of you to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to make you saints.

With blessings and fraternal affection,

+Fr. Gabriel Barrera