Nineteenth Day
The gift of understanding enables us to appreciate the beauty of all revealed truths. It is not like faith, by which we implicitly accept God’s revelation, but it gives us the reasons for making an act of faith; it will show us that our faith is true, because it shows us on what foundation the truth rests. Even after Our Lord’s resurrection the disciples showed that they did not understand what they had been told. They did not understand the Scriptures, for Our Lord had to upbraid the apostles for their incredulity and hardness of heart. Did He not reproach the two disciples returning to Emmaus with a slowness of understanding, because they were still wavering in the faith of the crucified Jesus? The apostles needed the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, in order to comprehend the Scriptures and the prophecies made concerning their Master. The gift of understanding shows us the necessity of virtues in ourselves, so that we may be willing to study them and to acquire them; it shows us the goodness of others and makes us appreciate their labors; it gives us insight into the order of things, that we may submit ourselves to authority and be docile to the teachings of the Church.
Prayer.
Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.