The main guide for this research can be found at A Guide to Spiritual Gifts

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Catholic View of Spiritual Gifts

For Protestants, the phrase “gifts of the Holy Spirit” is a derivative of the more familiar term “spiritual gifts” and has the same intended meaning. In Catholic usage, the two terms typically refer to different things. As a Wikipedia article on the “Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit" elaborates, the Catholic perspective is based on Isaiah 11: 2-3 and defines the seven “gifts of the Spirit” as supernatural qualities given for sanctification. These seven "gifts of the Spirit," which are generally unkown to Protestants, are

1. Wisdom
2. Understanding
3. Counsel
4. Fortitude
5. Knowledge
6. Piety
7. Fear of the Lord

A reference to “spiritual gifts,” on the other hand, will generally mean the same thing to Catholics as it does for Protestants, which are the gifts listed by Paul. Catholics, however, have their own preferred term for "spiritual gifts" which is “charisms”, or “charism” in the singular. This can be seen on many websites, blogs, and some books such as Charism and Sacrament by Donald Gelpi.

One site gives a summary of the Catholic doctrine of spiritual gifts titled “Spiritual (Charismatic) Gifts and Leadership.” It is taken from the Rule of the Order of the Legion of St. Michael, General Directory, nos. 146-162. The gifts are divided into three categories

1. Sacrificial and Consecrating Gifts
2. Speaking Gifts
3. Ministering Gifts

The gifts listed under the Speaking and Ministering categories would be familiar to Protestants, but the first category contains some gifts which are unique to Catholicism (as far as I can tell). Under the Sacrificial and Consecrating Gifts category are listed the familiar celibacy, martyrdom, and poverty, but this list also includes charity, virtue, obedience, substantial silence, substantial solitude, prayer, and penance/mortification.

The site begins with a distinction that would be unfamiliar to many Protestants. “While recognizing that the spiritual or "charismatic" gifts operate freely in the whole Community, we also recognize that these gifts are given to those who lead the Community in an extraordinary way to help them in their ministry.”

A more progressive perspective can be found at the Catherine of Siena Institute. Here you can sign up for a “called and gifted” workshop, buy “called and gifted” small group materials, and find an FAQ on spiritual gifts, which explains, among other things, the difference between spiritual gifts (charisms) and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

powered by performancing firefox

No comments: