SPIRITUAL GIFTS INVENTORY

Fostering Your Charisms for the building up of the Church

SANCTIFYING GIFTSWisdom

Knowledge

Understanding

Wonder and Awe

Courage

Right Judgment

Reverence

SPIRITUAL GIFTS/CHARISMS

Spiritual Gifts are the Hands of God

Spiritual Gifts have a supernatural capacity

Spiritual Gifts require our desire

Spiritual Gifts are tools for doing the “work”

Spiritual Gifts are the source of joy in our Christian Life

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Scripture

Second Vatican Council

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Holy Fathers

The United States Bishops

The Saints

–1 Corinthians 12:6

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good”

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

“Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of all, and to the needs of the world. Thy are a wonderful rich grace for the apostolic vitality and for the holiness of the entire Body of Christ.” CCC 799-800

CCC 951

“The Holy Spirit, distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank for the

building up of the Church.”

CCC 2003

“Grace is the first and the foremost gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. Grace includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us to associate us with his work, to enable us to

collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church.”

–Pope Pius XII

“All Christians receive gifts.”

THE HOLY FATHERS“The Body of Jesus is characterized by a diversity and complementarity of vocations, and states in life, of ministries, of charisms and responsibilities. Because of this diversity and complementarity every member is seen in relation to the whole Body and offers a totally unique contribution on behalf of the Body.” Pope John Paul II, 1987

“HOW ARE YOU USING THE GIFTS YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN, THE ‘POWER’ WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS EVEN NOW PREPARED TO RELEASE WITHIN YOU?”

Pope Benedict XVI - World Youth Day

Pope Francis – General Audience - Oct. 1, 2014The "most beautiful" experience,

the Holy Father underlined, “is to discover with how many different charisms and with how many gifts of his Spirit, the Father fills His Church!”“This must not be seen as a reason for confusion, for embarrassment,” he highlighted, because they are all gifts that God makes to the Christian community, in order for it to “grow harmoniously, in faith and in His love, as one body, the body of Christ.”See what the Lord asks of us today," Francis urged, "to recognize with joy and gratitude the different charisms that He distributes in the community."

POPE FRANCIS

See what the Lord asks of us today," Francis urged, "to recognize with joy and gratitude the different charisms that He distributes in the community."In the face of this multiplicity of charisms, the Pope said, “Our heart must open to joy and we must think, ‘What a beautiful thing!’ So many different gifts, because we are all God's children and all loved in a unique way.’”To this end, Pope Francis called on those gathered to “consider the special gifts” they have personally received, imploring them to use those gifts to advance the Church’s unity, life, and mission.”“The Spirit himself is ‘God's gift’ par excellence (cf. John 4:10) a gift from God, and in turn communicates different spiritual gifts to those who welcome him." - Pope Francis

UNITED STATES BISHOPS

Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper must be our prayer, “that all may be one.” Collaboration in ministry is a way to realize that unity in Christ.

Called and Gifted, The Third Millennium

VATICAN II ON THE LAITY, 20

“The Holy Spirit pours out gifts which make it possible for every Christian man and woman to assume different ministries and forms of service that complement one another an are for the good of all.”

DOROTHY DAY

Life Style Charism Spiritual Gift of Voluntary Poverty

CREATIVE CHARISMS

MUSIC

St. Hildegard of Bingen

GIFT OF GIVING AND SERVICE

Organization CharismsSt. Vincent De PaulVincent is the patron of all works of charity. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, a charitable organization dedicated to the service of the poor, was established by French university students in 1833, led by the Blessed Frederic Ozanam. The Society is today present in 132 countries.

Blessed Virgin Mary

Pastoral Charisms

Spiritual Gift of Hospitality

A facet of Mystical knowledge is a supernatural gift of God whereby a Saint is able to read into the heart and conscience of an individual to then be able to guide and direct the person towards a greater union with God. Over the centuries, this gift of reading into souls has often been given to Priests that they may better guide penitents in the Sacrament of Confession.

Understanding CharismsGift of Knowledge/Reading Hearts

HEALING CHARISMSSPIRITUAL GIFT OF INTERCESSORY PRAYERSt. Therese of Lisieux

ST. TERESA OF AVILA

GIVES US INSIGHT TO THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF WISDOM

Understanding Charisms

Young Bishop Wojtyla was in Rome, attending Vatican II.  He received from Krakow a letter which informed him that one of his main collaborators, Dr. Wanda Poltawska, a doctor in psychiatry with whom he had worked a lot in family services, was seriously ill with throat cancer. The doctors had decided to operate on her, but the hope of saving her was almost nil.  Wojtyla learned of the news with great sorrow, not only because she was a personal friend of his, but also because she was still young with four children, who would have become orphans. Medicine could do nothing. Wojtyla thought about Padre Pio.

Gift of Healing

He wrote to Padre Pio a letter in Latin, which was handed to the Capuchine priest by Msgr. Angelo Battisti, who was working at the Secretary of State of the Vatican, and also the administrator of the House for the Relief of Suffering, the hospital founded by Padre Pio.  Msgr. Battista handed the letter to Padre Pio, who replied, after having read it: “Angelo, I cannot say no to this request.”  Eleven days later, Msgr. Battisti returned to San Giovanni Rotondo, with a second letter of Archbishop Wojtyla, in which he thanked Padre Pio, saying: “The lady who was ill with cancer was suddenly healed before entering the operating room.”

Gift of Healing

MISSION STATEMENT

To help in the mission of the Church to evangelize through a full and

active knowledge of the Spiritual Gifts we have been given in order to build

up the Body of Christ with new energy and new enthusiasm.

WHY DO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT MY SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE?

To know who I am called to be

To reflect and act on this knowledge

To serve God, the Church, my family and the world

To live more fully in the present

To keep growing into the Fullness of the Body of Christ

To open myself up more to a life led by the Holy Spirit

To love

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THIS SPIRITUAL GIFT?

You have taken the survey and the Holy Spirit has led you into an awareness that you have certain spiritual gifts.

Know that your spiritual gifts come from Jesus and they are for the service of others.

GALATIANS 5:22-23

The first sign that you have particular gift is that it bears fruit. The Holy Spirit gives us the fruits of our gifts, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Do I experience this fruit in what I am doing for the Lord? “By their fruits you will know them.”

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8

Love is the way we use every gift. “Love is patient, Kind, not jealous nor boastful, not arrogant or rude, does not insist on its own way is not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

PHYSICAL COMMITMENT

Can I do the work required or can I get others to help me use this spiritual gift?

How does my age (young or old) affect the way I sue this gift now?

TIME COMMITMENT

Can I make this time commitment necessary for the preparation, duration and aftermath of this gift?

Have I discussed this time commitment with the Church - Pastor, Parish Council and others using this gift?

Have I discussed this commitment with my family?

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT

Does this ministry conform to the budget I/ we have been given?

Can I volunteer with this gift, to serve others?

EMOTIONAL COMMITMENT

The Holy Spirit has identified this gift in me, am I afraid to use it?

How am I willing to use it?

Am I excited about this gift? Am I open to new, as well as old ways to serve others with this spiritual gift?

BARRIERS TO USING OUR GIFTSPersonal Sin - the refusal to love self, others, God and nature

Sins can be sins of an individual, family, group or nations

There are sins of omission - not doing the holy and loving thing

There are sins of commission - doing something wrong

Sins can occur one time or habitually or rarely

Ripple effect of sin is separation from others feel dirty, uncomfortable with self alienation from God.

Myself - I refused to use my spiritual gifts? Am I lazy in coming forward with my spiritual gifts?

Family - Is my family benefiting from my spiritual gifts? Am I allowing them to use their spiritual gifts?

Parish - Have I offered my spiritual gifts to the parish?

AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

SECOND BARRIER IS OUR FEELINGS

I can’t do anything

I am unworthy.

Others have spiritual gifts, I didn’t get any.

I’m too old. I’m too young

Am I afraid?

Do I lack hope?

Am I stuck in

unforgiveness of others or myself?

Do Fear rejection?

Do I carry guilt?

Am I a paralyzed perfectionist?

I was Rejected before, I won’t change that again. Am I afraid of being rejected?

ADDICTIONSThe way we know that addictions are running our lives is that they take up hours of our days. If we spend more time on an addiction, than we pray, we need to change.

They become “false gods” and keep our focus on ourselves instead of Jesus and his Holy Spirit.

Am I addicted ot gossip, alcohol, sports, cigarettes, soap operas, pornography, etc.?

Am I preoccupied with myself, my health, my finances, my possessions, etc. so that I cannot use my spiritual gifts?

Am I compulsive about anything?

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE TO “LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD”

Receive the Church’s teaching on your gift

Share with others in small group discussion

Seek God’s counsel in adoration

Spiritual Direction

1 THES. 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Humility and self-knowledge

Sometimes we fell a loss when we no longer have a gift or when we find out we do not have a gift we thought we had.

“Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.” 1 Cor 12:31