Charity and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

(Found here)

“. . . The involvement of the Holy Spirit in our growth in virtue shows us that the Spirit acts in us through the normal paths of daily effort, rather than through extraordinary revelations, sudden motions, or exceptional charisms. He moves us like sap, whose movement we neither see nor sense, so discrete is he before the activities and projects that engross us. Yet his gradual push, along with our confident fidelity, prepares the way for the flowering of spring and the growth of autumn. The Spirit, therefore, can produce in us works that are sometimes quite surprising. Unfolding within us as deep inspirations, the gifts can move us beyond the simple measure of reason in the use of goods, and in acts of generosity, courage, and detachment. St. Francis of Assisi, for example, became the lover of Lady Poverty; St. Vincent de Paul and Mother Teresa were devoted to the destitute. There are also martyrs such as St. Cyprian at Carthage and the humble Blandina at Lyons, who, following the model of Stephen in the Acts of the Apostles, retained a peaceful, even joyous confidence in the face of torments and death. In this way, the gifts lead the virtues to their perfection.”

~Servais Pinckaers