The Blessed Trinity

1
The Blessed Trinity

• and Our Christian Vocation

2
The Blessed Trinity

• Chapter 6

3
Chapter 6

• The Holy Spirit
• Third Person of the Blessed Trinity

4
Chapter Objectives
The student will be able to understand

• Christs final preparation of his Apostles
• The election of St. Matthias
• Pentecost
• The Holy Spirit and human knowledge of God
• The Sacrament of Confirmation
• The Holy Spirit in the life of the Church
• The Holy Spirit and Sacred Scripture

• The nature of the Holy Spirit
• The gifts of the Holy Spirit
• The gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and
  fortitude
• The gifts of knowledge, piety, and fear of the
  Lord
• The fruits of the Holy Spirit

5
Keys to Chapter 6

• At Pentecost the Church received the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit helps people see God in creation,
  in the Scriptures, and in their lives.
• The Holy Spirit generously gives the Scriptures,
  virtues, gifts, and fruits.

6
For Discussion

• What happened to the Apostles at Pentecost?
• Who is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity?
• Who is the Holy Spirit?
• What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church
  and in the Christian life?
• continued

7
For Discussion

• What are the gifts and fruits of the Holy
  Spirit? When and how are they received?
• In what way is the Holy Spirit the Lord and Giver
  of Life, the Consoler, and the Sanctifier?
• What is the sin against the Holy Spirit for which
  there is no forgiveness?

8
Pentecost The Foundation of the Church

• Lesson Objectives
• Christs final preparation of his Apostles
• The election of St. Matthias
• Pentecost

9
Pentecost The Foundation of the Church
Basic Questions
What is the importance of the forty days during
which Christ appeared to his Apostles between his
Resurrection and Ascension?
As he had spent forty days in the desert in
preparation for his public life, Christ gave his
Apostles a forty-day period of preparation for
their public ministries between his Resurrection
and Ascension.
10
Pentecost The Foundation of the Church
Basic Questions
What is the significance of the election of St.
Matthias?
As they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit,
the Apostles, led by St. Peter, elected St.
Matthias to be the successor to the office, or
bishopric, of Judas in order to restore the
apostolic college.
11
Pentecost The Foundation of the Church
Basic Questions
What happened at Pentecost following Christs
Ascension?
The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles
during the Jewish feast of Pentecost, giving
birth to the Church as the Apostles became
courageous and gifted preachers.
12
Guided Exercise
Conduct a think/pair/share using the following
question How is the biblical pattern of forty
repeated with Christ and his Apostles after the
Resurrection?
13
Anticipatory Set
Incorporate the account of Pentecost (Acts 2)
into the Opening Prayer and then discuss the
following question How did the Christs
disciples change after the Descent of the Holy
Spirit?
14
Focus Question
Though they accepted them with faith, why were
Christs disciples not able to understand the
full meaning of his words?
The Holy Spirit had not yet come to them.
15
Focus Question
What did St. John the Baptist prophesy Christ
would do with respect to Baptism?
He who is mightier than I will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and with fire (Lk 316 cf. Mt
311).
16
Focus Question
When did the first Revelation of the Blessed
Trinity occur?
Immediately following the Baptism of Christ, the
Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a
dove, and a voice from Heaven was heard to say,
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased. In this scene were God the Son, the
voice of God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit
in the form of the dove.
17
Focus Question
At the Last Supper, whom did Christ promise to
send to his Apostles?
He promised to send the Holy Spirit, whom he
called the Counselor, who would teach them and
guide them in the way they should go.
18
Focus Question
Specifically, what did Christ say the Counselor
would do for the Apostles?
The Holy Spirit would teach you all things, and
bring to your remembrance all that I have said to
you (Jn 1426).
19
Focus Question
Where did Christ remind the Apostles the Holy
Spirit would come to them?
He would come in Jerusalem where they were to
wait.
20
Focus Question
What did Christ teach the Apostles between his
Resurrection and Ascension?
He spoke of the Kingdom of God.
21
Focus Question
What were the Apostles to do after they had
received the Holy Spirit?
They were to be Christs witnesses in Jerusalem
and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of
the earth (Acts 18).
22
Focus Question
How is the cenacle the first Christian church?
The upper room is where Christ had celebrated the
Last Supper. Here the Apostles, with the Blessed
Virgin Mary and other believers, gathered to pray
every day, and here the Holy Spirit descended
upon the Church.
23
Focus Question
What is the significance of the number twelve for
Christ and the Apostles?
As there were twelve tribes of Israel, so there
are twelve Apostles who lead the Church.
24
Focus Question
What were the qualifications for Judass
replacement?
He had to be a disciple of Christ who was with
them, beginning from the baptism of John until
the day when Christ was taken up from us,
including having been a witness to his
resurrection (Acts 122).
25
Focus Question
What is the meaning of office with respect to
Judass office in the Church?
The Greek is episkope, from which comes the word
episcopacy and the English word bishop.
26
Focus Question
What is the relationship between the Twelve and
the bishop of this diocese?
Every bishop is, by his office, a successor to
the Apostles due to the unbroken succession of
bishops from the Apostles.
27
Focus Question
What does Pentecost mean?
It is derived from the Greek for fifty because it
was celebrated fifty days after Passover.
28
Focus Question
What did the Jewish Pentecost celebrate?
It was a harvest festival and celebrated the
giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai, which
came fifty days after the departure of the
Hebrews from Egypt.
29
Focus Question
How was the Jewish Pentecost like the Mass?
It included the reading of the Law and the
offering of sacrifices.
30
Focus Question
What did the Apostles do upon having received the
Holy Spirit?
They went out into the streets to proclaim the
Word of God and began to speak in other
languages.
31
Focus Question
What did some people assume based on the
Apostles behavior?
Some thought they were drunk.
32
Focus Question
Why were there so many people in Jerusalem who
spoke foreign languages?
Jews from all over the world were celebrating
Pentecost.
33
Focus Question
What gift of tongues did the Apostles display at
Pentecost?
These Galileans spoke their own language but were
heard in the native language of each listener.
34
Guided Exercise
Complete a focused reading of the section
Awaiting the Promised Spirit (p. 194) using the
following question How did St. Peter behave
like the rock upon whom Christ would build his
Church while the Apostles awaited the coming of
the Holy Spirit?
35
Focus Question
What does it mean to say the Church is the
Sacrament of Salvation?
She is the sign and instrument of communion
between God and men.
36
Guided Exercise
Complete a focused reading of Acts 21-4 using
the following question In what metaphorical
terms is the Descent of the Holy Spirit
described?
37
Focus Question
How did the Descent of the Holy Spirit fulfill
Christs promise not to leave them?
He gave the Holy Spirit to the Apostles to
establish his Church, which is the principal
means through which Christ is present in the
world.
38
Focus Question
Though the Apostles received the Holy Spirit on
the evening of the Resurrection, why did the
Fathers of the Second Vatican Council speak of
the Churchs birth on the day of Pentecost?
The Apostles received the Holy Spirit at first
privately. On Pentecost he was given publicly,
which is why Pentecost is considered the birthday
of the Church.
39
Focus Question
Who was present with the Apostles at Pentecost?
The Apostles were with the Blessed Virgin Mary
and other disciples.
40
Perception of God and Confirmation

• Lesson Objectives
• The Holy Spirit and human knowledge of God
• The Sacrament of Confirmation

41
Perception of God and Confirmation
Basic Questions
What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit
and human understanding of God?
The Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Elizabeth, and St.
Simeon are examples of how the Holy Spirit
enables people to perceive God.
42
Perception of God and Confirmation
Basic Questions
What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit
and the Sacrament of Confirmation?
The Holy Spirit is received especially in the
Sacrament of Confirmation.
43
Anticipatory Set
Incorporate St. Simeons prophecy at the
Presentation (cf. Lk 222-35) into the Opening
Prayer and then discuss the following
question How is this moment the climax of St.
Simeons life?
44
Focus Question
What is the first mention of the Holy Spirit in
the New Testament?
He is named at the Annunciation The Holy Spirit
will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you (Lk 135).
45
Focus Question
What is the result of the Blessed Virgin Marys
yes?
The Holy Spirit made Christ incarnate in her
womb, bringing God to earth.
46
Focus Question
How is every persons yes to God like the Blessed
Virgin Marys yes?
Each time someone says yes to the will of God,
the Holy Spirit in a sense makes Christ incarnate
once again by making him or her an instrument of
Christ in the world.
47
Focus Question
How was the work of the Holy Spirit evident in
the Visitation?
St. Elizabeths unborn child, St. John the
Baptist, was filled with the Holy Spirit and
leaped with joy in her womb when she heard the
Blessed Virgin Marys greeting. St. Elizabeth,
herself filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized
her as the Mother of the Lord.
48
Focus Question
How did the Holy Spirit enable St. Elizabeth to
perceive God?
Though there were no visible signs to indicate
the presence of God, the Holy Spirit opened her
eyes to the divine presence in the Blessed Virgin
Marys womb.
49
Focus Question
How did the Holy Spirit enable St. Simeon to
perceive God?
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he was led to the
Temple where he recognized the infant Jesus to be
the promised Messiah.
50
Focus Question
How does the Holy Spirit enable each person to
perceive the reality of who he or she is?
The Holy Spirit enables each person to perceive
the existence of sin in his or her life and the
need for Christs Redemption.
51
Focus Question
What does it mean to say the Holy Spirit
convinces the world concerning sin?
It means the Holy Spirit shows people the evil
contained in their sin.
52
Guided Exercise
Write about ways the Holy Spirit has helped you
see Gods presence in the world, in the
Sacraments, or in the Church.
53
Focus Question
In the New Testament, how is the Holy Spirit
bestowed on the followers of Christ?
It is through the laying on of hands.
54
Focus Question
What is simony?
It is selling spiritual goods for money or some
other gain.
55
Focus Question
What did Simon the magician wish to purchase?
He desired the power of the Holy Spirit so he
could work wonders.
56
Focus Question
What is the Sacrament of Confirmation?
It is the bestowing of the Holy Spirit by the
laying on of hands as a completion of the
Churchs Sacraments of Initiation.
57
Focus Question
When was the Sacrament of Confirmation bestowed
in the early Church?
It immediately followed the reception of Baptism.
58
Focus Question
When is Confirmation ordinarily administered in
the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church?
It is deferred until the person has reached the
age of reason.
59
Focus Question
According to the Catechism, no. 1285, what
obligation does Confirmation place on a person?
He or she is obligated to spread and defend the
Faith by word and deed.
60
Graphic Organizer
Complete the following table about symbols of the
Holy Spirit (cf. p. 198).
Symbol Origin of the Symbol Meaning of the Symbol
Water
Anointing
Fire
Cloud and Light
Hand
Dove
61
Focus Question
What does it mean to be a temple of the Holy
Spirit?
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit given in
Baptism and Confirmation, the Father and the Son
are received, raising the recipient to a
supernatural level of divine life. Through the
Holy Spirit, God actually dwells in this person
(the soul) as in a temple.
62
Focus Question
How do the Church and the Holy Spirit work
together to give grace?
The Church is the visible dispenser of the
Sacraments. The Holy Spirit acts in the
Sacraments as the invisible dispenser of the life
that they signify.
63
The Life of the Church and the Scriptures

• Lesson Objectives
• The relationship between the Holy Spirit and the
  life of the Church
• The role of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Scriptures

64
The Life of the Church and the Scriptures
Basic Questions
What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit
and the life of the Church?
The Holy Spirit give life to the Church.
65
The Life of the Church and the Scriptures
Basic Questions
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the
Scriptures?
The Holy Spirit both inspired the authors of the
Sacred Scripture and reveals Christ in these
writings.
66
Anticipatory Set
Analyze the passage in the text from Dominum et
Vivificantem, 25 by preparing a bullet-point
summary of its main ideas.
67
Focus Question
What ultimate witness was each Apostle enabled by
the Holy Spirit to make?
Each was able to bear witness to Christ by
submitting to martyrdom. Extension Although he
faced martyrdom, St. John survived and eventually
died in exile.
68
Focus Question
What does Christ promise will happen if a person
is called to give witness to the Faith, even to
the point of losing his or her life?
No one should worry because the Holy Spirit will
teach you in that very hour what you ought to
say (Lk 1212).
69
Focus Question
Who inspires each person to pray and teaches him
or her to do so?
The Holy Spirit inspires each person to raise his
or her heart and mind to God. The Spirit also
helps for we do not know how to pray as we
ought (Rom 826).
70
Focus Question
What are some spectacular phenomena said to be
inspired by the Holy Spirit?
Glossolalia, prophecy, interpretation of
prophecy, and healing can be inspired.
71
Focus Question
Why did St. Paul address these charismatic gifts
in his First Epistle to the Corinthians?
There were abuses or conflicts associated with
them.
72
Focus Question
What is the reason for these gifts existence?
They are for the good of the Church.
73
Focus Question
What is the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit?
It is the love St. Paul describes in 1
Corinthians 13.
74
Focus Question
Outside St. Pauls letters, what are some
examples of charismatic gifts in the New
Testament?
The healings performed by the Apostles and the
speaking in foreign tongues after the Descent
of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost are charismatic
gifts.
75
Guided Exercise
Conduct a think/pair/share using the following
question Why does St. Paul consider the gift of
prophecy a greater gift than speaking in
tongues?
76
Guided Exercise
Complete a paragraph shrink of the paragraph The
Holy Spirit sanctifies (p. 202).
77
Guided Exercise
Analyze Inspiring the Authors of Scripture (p.
202) and make a bullet-point summary of Catholic
principles to understand the inspiration of
Scripture.
78
Focus Question
By what principle means does one come to know the
Person of Jesus Christ?
It is done principally through Sacred Scripture
and Sacred Tradition.
79
Focus Question
How does one get to know Christ in the
Scriptures?
He or she needs to study and meditate on the
Bible.
80
Focus Question
What does it mean to say all Sacred Scripture is
one book, and this one book is Christ?
Every part of Scripture speaks of Christ, and
every part of Scripture is fulfilled in him.
81
The Work of the Holy Spirit

• Lesson Objectives
• The nature of the Holy Spirit
• The gifts of the Holy Spirit

82
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Basic Questions
What is the nature of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the
Son, with whom he is consubstantial. He spoke
through the prophets of the Old Testament, is
revealed in the New Testament, and is manifested
in the life of the Church.
83
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Basic Questions
What gifts does the Holy Spirit give Christians?
The Holy Spirit gives the faithful the
theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity
and the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel,
fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the
Lord.
84
Anticipatory Set
Incorporate into the Opening Prayer the list of
truths about the Holy Spirit under We know the
Holy Spirit through the Church (pp. 204-205).
85
Focus Question
What are some translations of the Greek
Parakletos, which is used by St. John to describe
the work of the Holy Spirit?
It is translated Counselor, Teacher, Advocate,
Intercessor, Helper, and Comforter.
86
Focus Question
How was the Holy Spirit active in the Old
Testament?
He spoke through the prophets.
87
Focus Question
What is the basic mission of the Holy Spirit in
the New Covenant?
He was sent by the Father and the Son to guide
the Church until the end of time.
88
Focus Question
How is the transforming action of the Holy Spirit
in the hearts of people primarily seen in the New
Covenant?
It is seen in the sacramental life of the
Church.
89
Focus Question
What does it mean to proceed with respect to the
inner life of the Blessed Trinity?
The Holy Spirit proceeds eternally from the
Father and the Son, having his nature and
subsistence at once from the Father and Son.
90
Focus Question
Could a human being ever understand the existence
of the Blessed Trinity through reason?
No it has to be revealed.
91
Focus Question
What leads a person to accept truths not knowable
by reason?
The Holy Spirit leads him or her.
92
Focus Question
What does it mean to say the choice to be
baptized arises from the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit awakens faith in people and
communicates knowledge of the Father and the Son.
Faith is a gift from God.
93
Focus Question
What does it mean to say a person has been
elevated to the supernatural order?
It means he or she now has access to divine
assistance.
94
Focus Question
What is the principle of new life God places in a
baptized persons soul?
It is called grace.
95
Focus Question
What three things does God give a newly baptized
person?
He gives grace, infuses the theological virtues,
and gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
96
Focus Question
What is the purpose of the three gifts God gives
the baptized?
Through grace, virtues, and the gifts of the Holy
Spirit, the soul is capable of working toward
perfection.
97
Focus Question
What are the three infused theological virtues?
They are faith, hope, and charity.
98
Focus Question
Why are these called theological virtues?
Their object is God. Through faith, a life is
centered on God. Hope allows a person to move
toward him. Charity, or love, is the natural
fruit of the Christian life.
99
Guided Exercise
Conduct a think/pair/share using the following
question What does it mean to say the Holy
Spirit is the last of the Persons of the Holy
Trinity to be revealed?
100
Focus Question
What is blasphemy?
It is to speak evil about or to attribute evil to
holy persons or things, especially God.
101
Focus Question
What did St. Thomas Aquinas mean by, excludes
the elements through which the forgiveness of sin
takes place?
The sinner refuses to accept the salvation God
offers through the Holy Spirit. In other words,
the sinner rejects the possibility he or she can
be forgiven.
102
Focus Question
What is the difference between a habit and an
act?
A habit is a disposition of the soul (intellect
and will), which inclines us to act in a certain
way. An act is a freely chosen action, which is
either a good or evil action.
103
Focus Question
How does a person grow in meritorious acts?
The theological virtues make it possible with
that persons cooperation.
104
Focus Question
What is the relationship between the theological
virtues and knowledge of God?
By practicing the theological virtues and living
a moral life, one is led to a deeper knowledge of
the mystery of God and his plan for our lives.
This leads to wisdom to appreciate and penetrate
the mysteries of God as a Trinity of divine
Persons.
105
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, and Fortitude

• Lesson Objectives
• The gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and
  fortitude

106
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, and Fortitude
Basic Questions
What are the gifts of wisdom, understanding,
counsel, and fortitude?
The gift of wisdom enables a person to enjoy the
presence of God. The gift of understanding helps
to discern divine truths. The gift of counsel
makes wise decisions easier. The gift of
fortitude gives strength of character.
107
Anticipatory Set
Read 1 Corinthians 118-19, 30 (p. 206) and write
about what you think St. Paul is saying about
wisdom.
108
Focus Question
What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit?
They are wisdom, understanding, counsel,
fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the
Lord.
109
Focus Question
How do the gifts of the Holy Spirit relate to the
theological virtues?
They complete and perfect the theological
virtues. Extension The gifts of the Holy
Spirit enable people to receive and readily obey
the promptings the Holy Spirit sends in grace.
They make people more attentive to the voice of
God and make it easier to follow his plan in
life.
110
Focus Question
Who possesses the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Every baptized person in the state of grace
possesses them.
111
Focus Question
What does it mean to say grace builds on nature?
Divine assistance does not take the place of
human power but augments it.
112
Focus Question
How is St. Simeon (cf. p. 207) an example of a
person with the gift of wisdom?
St. Simeon was able to perceive the presence of
Christ in what otherwise seemed to be an ordinary
newborn child.
113
Focus Question
What does the gift of wisdom do to a persons
vision?
It opens his or her eyes to the reality of God in
the world.
114
Focus Question
What does the gift of understanding help to do?
It helps to penetrate the divine truths revealed
by God so a person can appreciate the fullness of
the Faith.
115
Focus Question
What does the gift of understanding help a person
comprehend?
It helps understand Sacred Scripture, Christs
Presence in the Sacraments, the signs used by God
to reveal his presence in the world, and the
events in each persons life.
116
Focus Question
How can a person cooperate with the Holy Spirit
to increase the gift of understanding?
He or she should pray, study, and meditate on Our
Lords words, the Churchs teachings, and the
events of daily life.
117
Focus Question
What does the gift of wisdom help a person know?
It helps to know God himself, what comes from
him, and what leads to him.
118
Focus Question
How does wisdom relate to taste?
The Latin word for wisdom is sapientia, which is
derived from the verb to taste. Taste judges
food, and wisdom judges experience, whether they
taste of God or not.
119
Focus Question
How can a person increase in the gift of wisdom?
He or she loves God and receives grace through
the Sacraments, prayer, and good works.
120
Focus Question
How do both St. Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch
(cf. p. 208) display the gifts of understanding?
The Holy Spirit, acting through St. Philip,
unveiled the meaning of the Scriptures to the
Ethiopian eunuch. Because he understood Jesus to
be the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, the
Ethiopian asked to be baptized.
121
Focus Question
How did St. Stephen (cf. p. 210) exemplify the
gift of fortitude?
He bore witness to Christ to the point of
becoming the first martyr.
122
Focus Question
What does the gift of counsel help a person do?
It helps to judge promptly, correctly, and
according to the will of God which actions are
for the glory of God and for salvation.
123
Focus Question
How does the gift of counsel relate to the virtue
of prudence?
The gift of counsel helps to know what should or
should not be done in situations requiring a
moral decision.
124
Guided Exercise
Study the Prayer to the Holy Spirit (p. 206) and
write a simple definition of each of the seven
gifts of the Holy Spirit derived from that
prayer.
125
Guided Exercise
Read Luke 1216-21 and then review the quote from
1 Corinthians used in the Anticipatory Set (p.
206). Write how the rich man might have behaved
differently if he had received the gift of
wisdom.
126
Guided Exercise
Answer the following question How can the four
gifts studied in this lesson help to know,
choose, and persevere in your vocation, whatever
that might be?
127
Focus Question
What does the gift of fortitude help a person
accomplish?
It gives strength and courage to endure long and
trying difficulties and to complete the tasks
undertaken in the service of God.
128
Focus Question
How was the gift of fortitude evident in
Pentecost?
The Holy Spirit filled the frightened Apostles
with courage.
129
Focus Question
How did St. Maximilian Kolbe (cf. p. 209)
exemplify the gift of counsel?
He imitated Christ in his devotion to the Blessed
Virgin Mary, dedication to prayer, apostolic
zeal, absolute reliance on divine providence, and
especially in his willingness to sacrifice his
life for another.
130
Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord The
Fruits of the Holy Spirit

• Lesson Objectives
• The gifts of knowledge, piety, and fear of the
  Lord
• The fruits of the Holy Spirit

131
Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord The
Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Basic Questions
What are the gifts of knowledge, piety, and fear
of the Lord?
The gift of knowledge permits a person to use
created things wisely. The gift of piety makes a
person know God as Abba, Father. The fear of the
Lord ensures a person will serve God faithfully.
132
Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord The
Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Basic Questions
What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, modesty,
chastity, and goodness are the fruits of the Holy
Spirit, supernatural works that flow from the
Christian life.
133
Anticipatory Set
Paraphrase Romans 1133-36.
134
Focus Question
How does the gift of knowledge assist the natural
knowledge of God?
The gift of knowledge enables a person to
discover the supernatural truth contained in
Gods creation and the path he or she should
follow on the journey to Heaven.
135
Focus Question
Why is detachment necessary in order to use
created things as God intended?
If one is attached to created things, they will
be more important than they really ought.
136
Focus Question
How does the gift of knowledge differ from
science?
Science is used to discover reality by
investigating material causes. The gift of
knowledge is used to discover Gods intention
with respect to material things.
137
Focus Question
What doctrine does the gift of piety teach?
It teaches the meaning of divine filiation, the
joyful, supernatural awareness of being a son or
daughter of God and a brother or sister of all
people.
138
Focus Question
Why does the gift of piety naturally lead to love
of God?
Piety helps to see how God is merciful to his
children, so they can be confident when
approaching him.
139
Focus Question
Why should the gift of piety change the way
others are seen?
If each person is a child of God, all people are
brothers and sisters.
140
Focus Question
How was the gift of piety seen in the life of Bl.
Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)?
She lived the teaching of Christ As you did it
to one of the least of these my brethren, you did
it to me (Mt 2540). She loved Christ in the
sick and the dying and thereby treated them with
dignity as sons and daughters of God.
141
Guided Exercise
Conduct a think/pair/share using the following
question How did Gods name become
progressively more accessible from the Old
Testament to the New?
142
Focus Question
How did the early Christians understand the
purpose of material goods?
They knew material wealth had been given to them
to use for the glory of God.
143
Focus Question
How is the Churchs historical care for the poor
a sign of the gift of knowledge?
Throughout the ages, members of the Church have
understood one of the best uses of wealth is to
assist the poor.
144
Focus Question
What does the gift of knowledge help a person
judge?
It helps to judge the true value of the things
encountered in life.
145
Guided Exercise
Conduct a think/pair/share using the following
question Why is fear of the Lord the beginning
of wisdom?
146
Focus Question
What does the word fear mean in fear of the
Lord?
It means awe, reverence, and respect. It is the
recognition of a just God who has authority over
all creation.
147
Focus Question
What is fear of the Lord?
It is a sense of sovereign respect in the
presence of an all-powerful and loving God.
148
Focus Question
How does a person view sin in light of the gift
of fear?
The gift of fear leads him or her to know the
evil of sin and, therefore, to detest it.
149
Focus Question
How does the gift of fear change peoples
attitudes toward God and themselves?
The gift impresses upon the heart a spirit of
adoration of God and profound and sincere
humility in regard to self.
150
Focus Question
How is the fear of the Lord like the relationship
between a child and his (good) parents?
A child inherently acknowledges the parents
right to make decisions. There is also an
understanding disobedience will be punished and
such punishment is just and proper. However, the
primary relationship is defined by a profound
mutual love love of the parents for their child
and of the child for his or her parents.
151
Focus Question
What two attitudes can a person have toward
obedience and respect for parents and God?
He or she may act out of love and respect or out
of fear of punishment. Acting out of love is by
far a superior motive, but both motives are
correct.
152
Focus Question
What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
They are the natural effects of the gifts of the
Holy Spirit, the acts or works that flow from
living the Christian life.
153
Focus Question
Are the fruits of the Holy Spirit self-directed
or other-directed?
They are directed toward love of neighbor.
Therefore, a person who possesses these gifts is
other-directed.
154
Graphic Organizer
Complete the following table about the fruits of
the Holy Spirit.
Fruit Explanation Example
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Generosity
155
Graphic Organizer
Complete the following table about the fruits of
the Holy Spirit.
Fruit Explanation Example
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Modesty
Chastity
Goodness
156
Focus Question
How did St. Therese act as a child of God?
She relied on God for everything and was
confident God loved her even though she was
imperfect.
157
Focus Question
What is acknowledged about God and neighbor
through the gift of piety?
God is Our Father, and all people have dignity as
sons and daughters of God.
158
Focus Question
How is true love proactive?
Love looks for the opportunity to show itself in
deeds.
159
Focus Question
Does true love of neighbor fulfill Christs Law
of Love?
Yes those who truly love their neighbors fulfill
the law perfectly they love as Christ loves.
160
Focus Question
How is Christian love seen in human history?
It is shown forth in the spiritual and material
works of Christians throughout the centuries.
161
Focus Question
Is it possible to fulfill the Law of Love
perfectly?
No the grace of the Sacraments and the gifts of
the Holy Spirit assist if someone sincerely
commits him- or herself to keeping the moral
law.
162
Focus Question
What transformation do the followers of Christ
seek?
As disciples, they want their hearts and minds to
identify with those of Christ so they may
increasingly love, think, and act according to
Christs example and teachings.
163
Focus Question
How did St. Faustina live humility?
She was assigned the lowest tasks at her
convent.
164
Focus Question
How did St. Faustina experience fear of the
Lord?
When she had a vision of God, she experienced
both fear and joy.