Fr. Lazar Arasu SDB – Don Bosco Kamuli , Uganda – November 2013

Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit It is Christ who lives in me… Love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us – Rom 5: 5 Living in the Spirit is living in Jesus. Whoever remains will be will bear much fruit… fruit that will last – Jn. 15 Building the Strength of our Character

Spirit helps us in our weakness Building the Strength of our Character Romans. 8.25 God plants the seed through the Spirit. Spirit’s gifts and fruits help us to live our daily life abundantly. Building the strength of Character is building life in the Spirit. Building the Strength of our Character

Building the Strength of our Character Love that is not suggested by the promiscuous world Agape-Love that is “unconquerable benevolence. Seeking others’ good rather than your own. 1 Charity - Love

Building the Strength of our Character Joy is deeper than happiness and pleasure. True joy comes even in trials and difficulties. Happiness is inside job… put Christ inside. 2 Joy - Happiness

Building the Strength of our Character We are “fighting” for peace all the time. Christian peace is “wholesome living”. It is order where there is chaos, it is light in darkness, it is love where there is hatred. it is knowing that God cares for us. Only peace of Christ is complete peace. 3 Peace - Shalom

Building the Strength of our Character Patience is a practical gift of the Holy Spirit. It gracefully bears trials and sufferings. It encompasses serenity, fortitude, endurance, tolerance and lack of complaint. 4 Patience

Building the Strength of our Character Always we are in need of it, but not always we are willing to give it to others. It is being understanding and helpful. Kindness is recognizing Christ in needy persons. 5 Kindness

Building the Strength of our Character It is being kind, just, decent, upright, concerned about others … It means the broadest sort of good, encompassing everything from Christ’s kindness to his firmness. It is being honest, kind, and just being decent. 6 Goodness

Building the Strength of our Character It is being big-hearted and open- handed. Reaching out to the needy without expecting things in return. It is also having wisdom that we too are always in need of others. 7 Generosity

Building the Strength of our Character Persons who are calm, peaceful, tender, quiet and mild… and act without irritability and resentfulness. It goes against the worldly-virtues of being pushy, bossy and getting things for oneself by all means. It is an indication of strength and power under control. 8 Gentleness

Building the Strength of our Character It comes as the result of commitment and total self-giving. Faithfulness is the root of all loyalties be it work or relationships, Commitment is all that makes the difference. 9 Faithfulness

Building the Strength of our Character It should not be reduced to external appearance, rather interior disposition expressed in our words and deeds. It is how we show ourselves to the world by avoiding vanity, boasting or seeking praise. It shows some of the beauty of God who dwells within us. 10 Modesty

Building the Strength of our Character It is self-will, self-discipline, strength of mind and strength of will. Self-control is having mastery over our passions. Helps to respond heroically at moments of temptations to see and act in a way violating our faith and conscience. 11 Self-control

Building the Strength of our Character Chastity is sexual purity. It avoids or moderates indulgence of sexual appetite. Failing in chastity leads to grave sins of the flesh often times pushes one to irreversible ills and pitfalls. All need to be chaste irrespective of our age and status. 12 Chastity

Spirit helps us to live our life to the full, which St. Paul calls ‘life in the Spirit’. In practical terms the Spirit helps us to build our character. It is the strength of the Spirit that helps us to build the strength of our character.

Living our life to the full is based on the building of our character strong. We all know that when the character is lost the life is lost. When the character is weak we produce weak fruits or no fruits.

As we reflect on each of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit we come to know that each of them given to us by our benevolent God for us to build our strength— strength of the character.