DAY 8

THE GIFT OF WISDOM.

• ACT OF CONTRITION.

  O my God I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of your punishments, but most of all because they offended you, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

• Act OF FAITH.

  My God, I believe in you and all that your Church teaches, because you have said it and your love is true.

• ACT OF HOPE.

  My God, I hope in you for grace and for glory, because of your promises, your mercy and your power.

• HYMN: HOLY SPIRIT LORD OF LIGHT

  Holy Spirit, Lord of light,
  From the clear celestial height,
  Thy pure beaming radiance give,
  Come, thou Father of the poor,
  Come with treasures that endure,
  Come, thou light of all that live!
  Thou, of all consolers best,
  

  Thou, the soul's delightful guest,
  Dost refreshing peace bestow
  Thou in toil art comfort sweet;
  Pleasant coolness in the heat;
  Solace in the midst of woe...

• SCRIPTURE READING (I Kings 3:5-28)

• CONSIDERATION.

  Wisdom is that gift of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Divine Spirit raises up our intellect and our heart to rest in God alone. Knowledge tells us the value of earthly things, and how we can enjoy them licitly without offending God; but wisdom mounts high above them. Wisdom is the blossom of all the other gifts. The latter leads us up step to the throne of God; wisdom bids us sit down on his footstool and judge all earthly things from sublime height. Wisdom gives us courage to trample underfoot wealth, honor, and pleasure, if these things, I will not say, impede our salvation, but even cast so such as a shadow between us and our God. You may be inclined to think that the gift of Wisdom is only for saints, but you are wrong if you think that you are not destined to be a saint. We must all aspire to sanctity. Why not aim high? God will reward the effort. Let us begin today by trying to make an act of thanksgiving for every little cross that falls on us.

• PRAYER.

  Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Show me the way by which I may be able to attain them and possess them forever.
  Amen.