The Gift of Wisdom

To be wise is to know the deepest causes in that department of knowledge and conduct in which one is said to be wise. A wise physician must know the fundamental principles of medicine. The term wisdom, taken simply, means the knowledge of the highest cause of all, that is, God. Out of this knowledge comes clear judgment about all things, judgment made inthe divine light of the knowledge. Now, man attains this judgment through the Holy Ghost. Wisdom is, therefore, a gift of the Holy Ghost.

Wisdom, notwithstanding it has the power to direct man’s life according to the charity which resides in his will,is itself in the intellect as in its proper subject.

Wisdom is in the practical intellect as well as in the speculative intellect. For it is not merely abstract knowing; it is a directing of human conduct, and hence isa doing.

Wisdom, as a gift of the Holy Ghost, enables a person to judge rightly of divine things, and to judge of other things according to the divine law of charity which is in him. Wisdompresupposes charity. Since charity is expelled by mortal sin, so also is wisdom.

Whoever is free from mortal sin and is in the state ofsanctifying grace has charity, and also has wisdom.

St. Augustine says that there is a special agreement or correspondence of wisdom with peacemakers. For he says (De Serm. Dom. in Mont., i): “Wisdom is becoming topeacemakers, in whom there is no movement of rebellion, but onlyobedience to reason.” Hence the seventh beatitude,“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,” corresponds to the gift of wisdom.