The seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that four of these gifts (Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Counsel) direct the intellect, while the other three gifts (Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord) direct the will toward God.

The first and highest gift of the Holy Spirit. It makes the soul responsive to God in the contemplation of divine things. Where faith is a simple knowledge of the articles of Christian belief, wisdom goes on to a certain divine penetration of the truths themselves. Built into wisdom is the element of love, which inspires contemplative reflection on these divine mysteries, rejoices dwelling on them, and directs the mind to judge all things according to their principles.

Confirms in those who have it the virtue of hope and infuses profound respect for God’s glory and selfless love for God. It protects from sin through dread of offending God. This gift has nothing to do with servility or fear of punishment.