The Gift of Counsel and the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: A Roadmap to Holiness

When our children were growing up and didn't particularly like vegetables, I always had them take seven beans or seven peas, etc. and recite the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. I thought of the gift of counsel as the Holy Spirit enabling us to offer wise advice to others. But this morning as I was reading the meditation in my Benedictus prayer book I read this by Fr. Barthélemy Froget, a French Dominican theologian who wrote frequently on the indwelling of the Holy Ghost:

Sunday Meditation: Whom Can You Trust? Start with the Holy Spirit!

The first gift of the Holy Spirit it wisdom. We all need it and the six others that accompany it: understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. It's prudent to begin every venture with a prayer to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance. And I offer this post today in that spirit -- seeking truth and praying for wisdom.

I shared this article by therapist Joshua Coleman today on my substack page. 

What Happens When Childhood Becomes the Explanation for Everything?

Coleman raises some questions that I think need to be asked about psychotherapy and its direction. I'm not saying there is no use for psychotherapy. A good holy practitioner can certainly be a help and support. I respected Dr. Ed Sheridan who died in 2022 who was a Catholic and daily communicant. Our pro-life community met with him on several occasions to discuss our approach to counseling moms in crisis. He was a wise and kind man. He was also a blessing to my own family during a challenging family crisis. 

Sunday Meditation: What is Truth?

Do you remember who asked, "What is truth?" A cynical politician who, above all else, was concerned about keeping his position by not rocking the boat and upsetting his tyrant emperor. 

Of the Latest Attack by a Black Racist, the USCCB on Racism, and Bigotry in General: Let's Just Stop It!

This video shows the vicious attack by an Antifa mob against journalist Andy Gno  in Portland, OR in 2019. Gno was also attacked by Antifa in 2021. The video below is an example of bigotry of belief. Antifa claims to be "anti-fascist" as they use violence and hatred against those who oppose their ideas. They are themselves fascists! Not all bigotry is racist but all racism is bigotry.

I'm going to focus primarily on racism in this post.

Nabi Sayeth: Fear is NOT a Gift of the Holy Spirit

Nabi Sayeth: When is the last time you pondered the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Do you remember them? Here’s a refresher for you:

They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety, and fear (to have profound reverence for or to be in awe) of the Lord.

Thought for the Day: Keep Your Kids Close

Keep your kids close -- home school!

Home school isn't about withdrawing your children from the world. It's about preparing your children in a safe environment to take on the world. You don't put a tender plant in the garden in February, you start it in a cold frame and let it get strong enough to withstand the weather. That's what home schooling is all about.

So keep 'em close in the early years and teach them to be critical thinkers and to flee from evil. Help them grow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. And when they're ready, send out little soldiers in the Church Militant to lead a fallen world back to Christ.