In the basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, one of the first things a visitor will notice are the massive statues, about three times the height of a person, looking down into the congregation. The statues are of the apostles who, of course, were all martyred but one. But what’s catches the attention of visiting pilgrims isn’t just the size of the statues, but how they’re depicted: held in the hands of each statue are the very means by which they were martyred. For example, St. Simon, who was sawn in two, holds a saw that’s as long as he is tall. While it may be a bit gruesome, these statues are also a great reminder of how committed the first Apostles were.
It’s certainly one of my prayers that I’m never put to the test like that. Truth be told, I’m not sure that I have what it takes to be a martyr, nor do I wish to find out; sometimes it’s a challenge just to get up in the morning to celebrate the Mass, but the martyrs were killed for doing exactly what we’re doing now.
It’s easy to imagine how tempting it would have been to abandon the faith, how tempting it would have been to simply deny Jesus to avoid horrible pain and death. Perhaps none of us will ever be threatened with martyrdom, but we all know what it’s like to have faith put to the test, to be the subject of ridicule or to be told to keep faith to ourselves. Because we all want to be counted as faithful disciples, the question naturally arises: how did those first disciples remain so faithful and committed even when facing death? What is it that made the martyrs so strong?
In short, the answer is the Holy Spirit. At one point, fear drove the disciples to lock themselves away. They feared death. They felt inadequate to share the Good News. They were very aware of their limits and failings; very far from sainthood. So, the disciples hid. It’s not where they were to stay though. Once they received the Holy Spirit, they left their place of hiding to proclaim the Good News. When they felt inadequate, the Holy Spirit offered them the gifts needed to find the right words and acts. When they felt far from the Saviour, the Holy Spirit offered them the gifts needed to become saints and heroes for us today. We learn how it’s the Holy Spirit that strengthens, teaches, equips and moves disciples, how the gifts of the Holy Spirit give life to our Church.
One thing Catholics are great at is making lists. Sacraments, virtues, vices: we make lists not just so there’s something to quiz Confirmation candidates on but so it’s easy to have goals to aim for and to recognize signs of invisible truths happening all around. One list is the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, a set of categories of different ways we know the Holy Spirit works through disciples.
Through the Gift of Wisdom, disciples gain the capacity to love spiritual things more than material things. Through the Gift of Understanding, we understand how to live as followers of the Saviour, never confused by conflicting cultural messages about the right way to live. The Gift of Counsel, sometimes called Right Judgement, reveals the difference between right and wrong, and even right and more right, helping disciples place values in the proper order. With the Gift of Fortitude or courage, we overcome fears and are willing to take risks when following Jesus and his commandments to love and share the Good News. Through the gift of knowledge, disciples don’t simply wish to understand God and his ways, but actually see things from God’s perspective. When empowered by the Gift of Piety or Reverence, we acknowledge our total dependence on God, we approach him with humility, trust, and love, offering right worship. Finally, the Gift of Fear of the Lord stirs awareness of how all we truly desire, perfect knowledge, and goodness, perfect power, love, happiness and joy, are found in God alone.
Maybe you can recognize some of these gifts in your own life, great signs of the Holy Spirit working in your life, proof that God’s called on you to share in his work. But maybe you recognize how you might lack some of those gifts. The statues I mentioned earlier: what they held in their hands, the instruments through which they were martyred, were transformed through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, from instruments of death or signs of failure into trophies that proclaim victory through the Holy Spirit. So, what Gifts of the Holy Spirit could we use more of today? Which of his Gifts might empower our Church, our parish, our families and each Christian to become faithful Disciples who make as big a difference in the world today as did the first Apostles. Let’s now take a moment to pray that we would always accept the gifts and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Father of all, we pray that you would send to us your Holy Spirit to offer us his gifts. With wonder and reverence, may we draw closer to you. With knowledge, and understanding, may we share our faith with the world and with courage, may we do so boldly. With wisdom and counsel, may we recognize where we’re called to proclaim truth and how we are to use your gifts so our community would reveal your love and be a light in the world. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, Our Lord. Amen.
