The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit

"Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy.  Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.  Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.  Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.  Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy."  Saint Augustine

Moral Life 

"The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  These are permanent disposition which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord...They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them...

The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory.  The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them:  charity, joy, peace, patience,m kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1830-1832, Galatians 5:22-23)

Gifts of the Spirit 

Only one thing is important - eternal salvation.  Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared, sin.  Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference.  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love.  The gifts of the Spirit enlighten the mind, strengthen the will, and inflame the heart with love for God. Pray for them.  

"The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;

 for we do not know how to pray as we ought, 

but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groaning."
(Romans 8:26)

The Gift of Fear of the Lord 

The gift of Fear does not mean that we are afraid of God, but that we are filled with a sense of wonder at how great God is.  This gift fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread sinning against Him or being separated from Him.  It is a fear that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and a filial submission to our heavenly Father.  It is this fear that is the beginning of the gift of Wisdom which starts to detach us from any interest in worldly pleasures that would separate us from God.

The Gift of Piety 

The gift of Piety inspires us to love and respect for Our Lord's sake persons and things consecrated to Him, as well as those who are vested with His authority, His Blessed Mother and the Saints, the Church and its visible Head, our parents and superiors, our country and its rulers. One example would be genuflecting or bowing in front of the tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament resides in our Churches.  Or treating those we interact with with respect. When we are filled with the gift of Piety we find that the practice of our faith is not a burdensome duty, but a delightful service to our God and Creator.

The Gift of Fortitude 

Even when we know what the right choice is, it  can be difficult to make that choice.  The gift of Fortitude gives us the courage to live our faith life every day.  By the gift of Fortitude our soul is strengthened against a natural fear of doing what is right when faced with pressure to do what is wrong. Fortitude also imparts to the will the ability to undertake without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face danger, and even to endure martyrdom.

The Gift of Knowledge 

The gift of Knowledge enables our soul to evaluate created things in their relation to God.  This is the kind of knowledge that comes after prayer, when the Spirit speaks to our hearts and enlightens in us what is true, unmasking the pretense and emptiness of the world, and pointing us to what is the true purpose of all of our daily endeavors to glorify and serve God.

The Gift of Understanding 

There are things about our faith which can be confusing.  The gift of Understanding helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion, to understand their goodness and learn to appreciate them.  Through the gift of Understanding, our faith ceases to be sterile but takes on a new life.

The Gift of Counsel 

The gift of Counsel helps us to  make the right choices, ones that are loving and not self serving. There are times when one person will tell us to do one thing and another something else.  Both seem right, but what should we do? The gift of Counsel endows our soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what should be done, especially in a difficult circumstance.  Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily lives.  Counsel might be called supernatural common sense.

The Gift of Wisdom  

Part of Wisdom is common sense, but it also means listening to our elders, parents and grandparents who have many lessons to teach us.  Wisdom also means listening to the voice of the Spirit in our heart.  The gift of Wisdom embodies all the other Gifts of the Spirit.  Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts.  It is this gift that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit 

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love.  Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints. The Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit.

Pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit

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Holy Spirit - Corrado Giaquinto

Novena in Honor of the Holy Spirit

Novena in honor of the Holy Spirit

Ascension Thursday - Pentecost Sunday

This novena begins on the day after the Solemnity of the Ascension, Friday of the 6th Week of Easter, even if the Solemnity of Ascension is transferred to the 7th Sunday. 

The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost.  It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church.  Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian.

"He [Jesus] presented himself alive to them [Apostles] by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.  While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem ...When he said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and cloud took him from their sight."  (Acts 1:3-9)

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

(say daily during the Novena)

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God.  I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love.  You are the Strength and Light of my soul  In You I live and move and am.  I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You.  Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations.  I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness.  Holding the pierced feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You.  Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

(say daily during the Novena)

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love.  Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom and I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Sprit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. 



FIRST DAY

(Friday, 6th Week of Easter)

Holy Spirit!  Lord of Light!
From Your clear celestial height,

Your pure beaming radiance give!

The Holy Spirit

Only one thing is important - eternal salvation.  Only one thing, therefore, is to feared - sin.  Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference.  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love.  With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God.  To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Sprit daily, for "The Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us."

Prayer

Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given us forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Holy Spirit of Fear. Amen

Say

Our Father and Hail Mary (once)

Glory Be to the Father (seven times)
Act of Consecration (once)
Prayer for the Seven Gifts (once) 

SECOND DAY

(Saturday, 6th Week of Easter)

Come, Father of the poor.
Come, treasures which endure;
come, Light of all that live!

Gift of Fear

The gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin.  It is a fear that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and a filial submission to our heavenly Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of wisdom detaching us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate us from God.  "They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and in His sight will sanctify their souls."

Prayer

Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and God, before my face forever, help me to shun all things that can offend You, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where You live and reign in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.   





Say

Our Father and Hail Mary (once)

Glory Be to the Father (seven times)
Act of Consecration (once)
Prayer for the Seven Gifts (once)

THIRD DAY

(7th Sunday of Easter)

Thou, of all consolers best,
Visiting the troubled breast,
Dost refreshing peace bestow.

The Gift of Piety

The gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial affection for God as our most loving Father.  It inspires us to love and respect for His sake persons and things consecrated to Him, as well as those who are vested with His authority, His Blessed Mother and the Saints, the Church and its visible Head, our parents and superiors, our country and its rulers.  He who is filled with the gift of Piety finds the practice of his religion, not a burdensome duty, but a delightful service.  Where there is love, there is no labor.

Prayer

Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart.  Enkindle herein such a love for God, that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen.

FOURTH DAY

(Monday, 7th Week of Easter)

Thou in toil art comfort sweet,
Pleasant coolness in the heat,
solace in the midst of woe.

The Gift of Fortitude

By the gift of Fortitude the soul is strengthened against natural fear, and supported to the end in the performance of duty.  Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy which move it to undertake without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to trample under foot human respect, and to endure without complaint the slow martyrdom of even lifelong tribulation.  "He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved." 

Prayer

Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen



Say

Our Father and Hail Mary (once)

Glory Be to the Father (seven times)
Act of Consecration (once)
Prayer for the Seven Gifts (once)

FIFTH DAY
(Tuesday, 7th Week of Easter)

Light immortal!  Light Divine!
Visit Thou these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill!

The Gift of Knowledge

The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things at their true worth--in their relation to God.  Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures, reveals their emptiness, and points out their only true purpose as instruments in the service of God. It shows us the loving care of God even in adversity, and directs us to glorify Him in every circumstance of life.  Guided by its light, we put first things first, and prize the friendship of God beyond all else.  "Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesses it."

Prayer

Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards.  Amen.

Say

Our Father and Hail Mary (once)

Glory Be to the Father (seven times)
Act of Consecration (once)
Prayer for the Seven Gifts (once)

SIXTH DAY

(Wednesday, 7th Week of Easter)

If Thou take Thy grace away,
nothing pure in man will stay,
All his good is turn'd to ill.

The Gift of Understanding

Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion by faith we know them, but by Understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them.  It enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through them to be quickened to newness of life.  Our faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith that is in us; we begin to "walk worthy of God in all things pleasing, and increasing in the knowledge of God."   

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy Light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son.  Amen.

Say

Our Father and Hail Mary (once)

Glory Be to the Father (seven times)
Act of Consecration (once)
Prayer for the Seven Gifts (once)

SEVENTH DAY
(Thursday, 7th Week of Easter)

Heal our wound -- our strength renews;
On our dryness pour Thy dew,
Wash the stains of guilt away.

The Gift of Counsel

The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must be done, especially in difficult circumstances.  Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants, and Christian citizens.  Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation.  "Above all these things, pray to the Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth."

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long.

Say

Our Father and Hail Mary (once)

Glory Be to the Father (seven times)
Act of Consecration (once)
Prayer for the Seven Gifts (once)

EIGHTH DAY
(Friday, 7th Week of Easter)

Bend the stubborn heart and will,
melt the frozen warm the chill.
Guild the steps that go astray!

The Gift of Wisdom

Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts,  Of wisdom it is written  "all good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands."  It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree.  Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, whilst the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior:  "Take up they cross and follow me, for my yoke is sweet and my burden light."

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty.  Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth.  Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.

Say

Our Father and Hail Mary (once)

Glory Be to the Father (seven times)
Act of Consecration (once)
Prayer for the Seven Gifts (once)

NINTH DAY
(Saturday, Vigil of Pentecost)

Thou, on those who evermore Thee confess and Thee Adore, in Thy sevenfold gift, Descend; Give Them Comfort when they die; Give them Life with Thee on high; Give them joys which never end.  Amen.

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit

The gifts of the Holy Spirit perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration.  As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit, our service becomes more sincere and generous the practice of virtue more perfect.  Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Spirit.  These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God, to serve Whom is to reign. 

Prayer

O Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.

Say

Our Father and Hail Mary (once)

Glory Be to the Father (seven times)
Act of Consecration (once)
Prayer for the Seven Gifts (once)

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Art
Pentecost - Bernini Alabaster Window
Baptism of Christ - Albani
Ascension - Matthew Garrett
Pentecost - Matthew Garrett
Pentecost - Duccio di Buoninsegna
Pentecost - Jean Restout
Pentecost - Reubens
Pentecost - El Grecco
Pentecost - Raphael
Pentecost - Giotto

Fruits of the Spirit - A Journey

Fruits of the Spirit
A Journey

“The goal of a virtuous life
is to become like God.”
Saint Gregory of Nyssa, De beatitudinibus

The first step toward canonization is determination that a candidate processes Heroic Virtue. What is Heroic Virtue?  It is the possession of the moral Human Virtues exercised at an extraordinary level whenever called upon with ease.  It is the possession of the moral Theological Virtues practiced to an eminent degree. It is the willingness to be sustained by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and to be moved by the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.   Heroic Virtue is to live a life that is no longer merely human but in a sense also divine.  How does one achieve this state of Heroic Virtue?  "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

"A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good.  It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself….

Human Virtues are firm attitudes, stable dispositions, and habitual perfections of intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions, and guide our conduct according to reason and faith.  They make possible ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally good life. The virtuous man is he who freely practices the good….

Four virtues play a pivotal role and accordingly are called “cardinal”; all the others are grouped around them.  They are:  prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance…

It is not easy for man, wounded by sin, to maintain moral balance.  Christ’s gift of salvation offers us the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of the virtues…

Human Virtues are rooted in the Theological Virtues, which adapt man’s faculties for participation in the divine nature…the Theological Virtues are:  faith, hope and charity [love]…The fruits of charity [love] are joy, peace, and mercy…

The moral life of Christians is sustained by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit…The seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord…they complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them.  They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations…

The Fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."

(Catechism of the Catholic Church #1803 -1832)   

More modern editions of the Bible list nine Fruits of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23 New American Bible)

“Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.…So by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:17-20)

Throughout the Bible, righteous men are equated to trees which bear good fruit.  In the 5th Chapter of the Letter to the Galatians, Saint Paul illustrates the visible characteristics of a true Christian as The Fruit of the Spirit.

Listen here to Fr. Robert Barron beautifully describe the first three Fruits of the Spirit, Love, Joy and Peace in his Sermon 73 : The Holy Trinity : The Fruits of the Spirit.  I will attempt to describe the rest below.

Patience enables us to endure hardship, by conforming to God’s will in our life without sadness or resentment. "You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised." (Romans 10:36)

There are three degrees of achieving the "Fruit of the Spirit of Patience":  accepting hardship without interior complaint, using hardship to grow in virtue, and finally to desire hardship out of love for God, accept them with a spiritual joy and offer up ones hardship to God. Patience is a form of the cardinal virtue of fortitude, the courage to do good despite obstacles. 

Kindness is the quality of understanding, or empathy for others who are in need.  Kindness is acting for the good of people regardless of what they do to you.  When the "Fruit of Kindness" is at work in one's soul, one seeks to become adaptable to the needs of those who are around him, doing for others without expecting anything in return. 

 

"Learn to savor how good the Lord is; happy are those who take refuge in him." (Psalm 34:9) Similar to kindness, but with an emphasis on moral values and genuineness, is goodness.  Having the “Fruit of the Spirit of Goodness" is a quality which seeks to imitate God's Goodness.  “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good.” (Luke 6:45)

The "Fruit of the Spirit of Generosity" is well illustrated in the life of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta who lived her life for others. "She begged for the poor.  She fed the poor.  She clothed the poor. She lavished her love on the sick, the deformed, and the dying - holding in her arms the men, women, and children who no one else would touch.  She defended the right to life of the littlest and weakest among us, and she did it all while owning nothing herself, giving every gift she received to those most desperately in need."  (Courageous Generosity: A Bible Study for Women on Heroic Sacrifice by Stacy Mitch) 

Gentleness may also be described as meekness, a characteristic so important that it was the third to be mentioned by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) Meek does not mean weak for Jesus who is far from weak comforts us in Matthew 11:29 with, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves." To live the "Fruit of the Spirit of Gentleness" is by the grace of the Holy Spirit to have a disposition that is even-tempered, balanced and unpretentiously pardon injuries and correct faults.  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

It is not always easy to be faithful.  "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)  "I believe in God: this first affirmation of the Apostles' Creed is also the most fundamental...The faithful first profess their belief in God."  (CCC #199) But before we can boast about our faithfulness, know that "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is a gift from God." (Ephesians 2:8) Living the "Fruit of the Spirit in Faithfullness" is opening one's life to the free gift of faith that has been measured out and apportioned to each according to God's will.

Modesty moderates our presentation to others.  “Purity requires modesty…Modesty protects the intimate center of the person.  It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden….It guides how one looks at others and behaves toward them in conformity with the dignity of persons…Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love.  It encourages patience and moderation in loving relationships…The forms taken by modesty vary from one culture to another.  Everywhere, however, modesty exists as an intuition of the spiritual dignity proper to man.”  Catechism of the Catholic Church #2521 – 2524)

Self-control or "temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods.  It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion...In the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety."  We ought "to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world." (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1809)  

To live well under the guidance of the "Fruit of the Spirit of Self-Control," "is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted through temperance. No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude).  It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence)."  (Saint Augustine, De moribus eccl) 

Chastity comes under the cardinal virtue of temperance, and is opposed to the capital sin of lust.  The practice of chastity is to control of our thoughts and discipline our senses, especially the sense of sight. “Chastity is a moral virtue…a gift from God, a grace, a fruit of spiritual effort.  The Holy Spirit enables one whom the water of Baptism has regenerated to imitate the purity of Christ…All the baptized are called to chastity.  The Christian has ‘put on Christ,’ the model for all chastity.  All Christ’s faithful are called to lead a chaste life in keeping with their particular states of life….Married people are called to live conjugal chastity; others practice chastity in continence.” (CCC #2345-2349) 

Developing the "Fruits of the Spirit" is a lifelong journey.  It is where our soul collaborates with the gift of grace bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit. Few may achieve the totality of these “Fruits” here on earth, but we may all commence in the journey.  Which begins when we submit to desire to walk in God’s will.  “God is Love,” (1 John 4:8) and the Fruits of God’s Spirit of Love is joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.  “If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit,” one day at a time. (Galatians 5:25)

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Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Blessed Pope John Paul II forgives Mehmet Ali Agca