Jun 14 Sat
What are the differences among virtues, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and charismas?
Through grace, God the Holy Spirit makes us “participate in the divine nature.” We then acquire a supernatural new life; we become children of God and heirs with Christ. Grace is like light whose splendor erases the stains of the soul, and we are divinized. Thus, it is comparable to a wedding garment, or a seed, in the Gospel.
There is only one divine nature common to the three divine Persons, but this divine nature can be participated in by a multitude of human beings, who become “gods by participation.” There is only one substantial filiation (the only-begotten Son of the eternal Father), but there can be a multitude of people who participate (share) in this filiation: a multitude of children of God in Christ in such a way that Christ becomes “the first-born among many brethren” (Rom 8:29).
With grace, we receive virtues. These are habitual and firm dispositions to do good. They are stable “powers” of the intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions, and guide our conduct based on reason and faith. The goal of a virtuous life is to be transformed into an icon of Christ. The moral life of a Christian must be directed toward collaborating with the Lord in the task of his sanctification, which implies removing the obstacles to the action of the Holy Spirit and carrying out works pleasing to God.
There are pure human virtues that are acquired through effort, the fruit of repeated, morally good acts. They provide ease, self-mastery, and joy in living a morally good life.
Among these, the cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) are central.
Theological virtues (faith, hope, and charity) are infused by God. These virtues orient us to God and enable us to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity.
With grace, we also receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts are permanent dispositions that make us receptive to divine inspirations. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are a special awakening of the human soul, and they mature the supernatural life of grace in each person.
They improve the virtues of those who receive them and help the faithful readily obey divine inspirations. A Christian “empowered” by the virtues can perform good deeds. The emphasis is on the decision of the person. A Christian who is obedient to God and allows the Holy Spirit to act through him performs excellent deeds. The emphasis is on the Holy Spirit.
These gifts are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
The Holy Spirit also grants extraordinary, gratuitous gifts to some persons. These are the charisms, given for the good of others, the building up of the Church, and the needs of the world. The emphasis is on the good of others. They can be extraordinary (like miracles or speaking in tongues or healing) or simple and humble (like directing souls, or graces of state that accompany responsibilities in the Church, or within the family and society).
In summary, virtues are habits of doing good, developed through practice and aided by grace; the gifts of the Holy Spirit are dispositions that make us receptive to God's guidance; and charisms are specific graces given for the benefit of others and the Church as a whole.