Isaian Gifts

Named in Isaiah 11:2-3, these are the gifts received at our Baptism and strengthened in the Sacrament of Confirmation: wisdom, understanding, counsel (right judgment), fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety (reverence), and fear of the Lord (wonder and awe). Given to all of us, they are most important for the personal spiritual growth of each individual.

Corinthian Gifts

Found in 1^st Corinthians 12:7-10, these are the gifts of service which are to be used for the benefit of others. They are God's action manifested through individuals, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to meet the needs of the community. They are: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues and the interpretation of tongues.

Motivational Gifts

These gifts are also present to some degree in all of us, although one gift may dominate, giving us a particular direction in our lives. Found in Romans 12:6-8, these gifts can be listed as: prophet, server, teacher, encourager, giver, administrator, compassion person.

During the prayer meeting everyone is encouraged to pray and sing using the Gift of Tongues. This is inspired prayer in which we allow the Holy Spirit to guide and form our words in a language not known to us. Rising from our hearts, this prayer is a language of love that more fully expresses our wonder and awe of God when our human words are not enough.

Mentioned in 1st Corinthians 14:22 as the 'least' of the Gifts, it may be used any time we pray. At prayer meetings singing in tongues is used most powerfully to praise, worship and thank God.

The gift of tongues is a tremendous blessing and anyone who desires to release it can simply yield to the gift.

At prayer meetings, we expect to hear prophecy spoken through a member of our Word Gift Ministry. In prophecy, God speaks His mind and heart to His people through an individual who has received this gift from Him. Given in the first person, God uses a prophetic word to encourage, console, teach, correct and sometimes to call us to account, but always to draw us closer to Him. His message is for us now, at this particular time and only rarely foretells the future.

During prayer for healing, some people are seen falling to the floor where they remain resting. This experience is called 'resting in the Spirit'. It is a way of surrendering to the healing touch of God, and people who do so have found themselves in His presence, hearing Him speak words of comfort, consolation and forgiveness. Others prefer to rest in the Spirit while sitting.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains much about the gifts. The following paragraph from the Catechism is just one of many:

In Paragraph 2003 the Catechism states: Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. But grace also 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. There are sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different sacraments. There are furthermore special graces, called 'charisms' after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning 'favour', gratuitous gift', 'benefit'. Whatever their character - sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues -charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church (1 Cor. 12).