Day 245: Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit (2025) - The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 245: Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit (2025)
Date: September 2, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Covered Catechism Paragraphs: 1830–1845

Episode Overview

On Day 245, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit as described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This episode marks the conclusion of the section on virtues, offering a clear distinction between the gifts that sustain Christians in the moral life and the fruits that manifest as the result of living according to the Spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? (05:00–18:30)

The gifts are permanent dispositions that make us docile to the Holy Spirit's promptings (Catechism 1830).
- "These gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent dispositions, right? They're not just one-off. They're permanent dispositions that make a person docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit." — Fr. Mike (08:00)
They don't override free will, but instead, make us open to being taught and moved by God.
Seven gifts:
1. Wisdom
  Draws us to divine things and helps us appreciate and value them.
  - "Wisdom draws us to divine things and disposes us to appreciate and value them…The wise person is the one who knows the value of a thing." — Fr. Mike (10:40)
2. Understanding
  Empowers our minds to grasp revealed truths.
  - "Understanding…my mind has been empowered to grasp revealed truths." — Fr. Mike (11:18)
3. Counsel
  Enables us to choose and act successfully in concrete situations. Practical wisdom.
  - "Counsel empowers us to choose and act successfully in concrete situations." — Fr. Mike (12:14)
4. Knowledge
  Allows us to judge rightly the place of created things; discerning their value in the light of faith.
  - "Knowledge enables us to judge rightly the place of created things." — Fr. Mike (13:05)
5. Fortitude
  Inspired, God-given courage to persevere in God's service.
  - "Fortitude is inspired courage, right? It's not just my own courage. It's God-breathed courage provided by the Holy Spirit." — Fr. Mike (13:40)
6. Piety
  Reverence for God the Father, enabling authentic worship.
  - "Piety is reverence for God the Father which enables us to worship in spirit and in truth." — Fr. Mike (14:10)
7. Fear of the Lord
  Profound respect for God’s majesty; fear of offending Him.
  - "Fear of the Lord is a profound respect for the Divine Majesty and a fear of offending Him through sin." — Fr. Mike (14:43)
Quick note: Fr. Mike credits FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students)’s Spiritual Impact Boot Camp for these succinct definitions.

2. Distinguishing Gifts vs. Fruits of the Spirit (17:30–21:30)

Fr. Mike admits he used to conflate gifts and fruits, clarifies they are separate realities.
- "You may have lived a lot of your life not making a distinction between the gifts of the Spirit and the fruits of the Spirit. If that's you, then hey, we're similar." — Fr. Mike (07:30)
Gifts: Given to empower, make us receptive and strong in virtue.
Fruits: Evident results, "perfections" that appear in a life lived in the Holy Spirit.
- "The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory." — Fr. Mike (17:45)

3. What Are the Fruits of the Holy Spirit? (18:25–21:30)

There are traditionally 12:
1. Charity (Love)
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Generosity
8. Gentleness
9. Faithfulness
10. Modesty
11. Self-control
12. Chastity
Analogy: If the gifts are water, sun, and nutrients, the fruits are the oranges on an orange tree—a natural outcome.
- "The gifts are given to us from the Lord…they empower us, they enable us…The fruits, they come forth from us because of a life lived pursuing Jesus." — Fr. Mike (18:58)
Fruits are observable signs—we can evaluate our growth by noticing whether these fruits are increasing.
- "We can look at ourselves and say, okay, am I living a life deeper and deeper in Christ?...Do I have more charity than I had before or less?" — Fr. Mike (19:50)
Growth in these fruits happens especially in areas where we are being tested and stretched.

4. Virtues and the Role of Grace (16:20–17:20)

Virtues are firm, habitual dispositions to do good.
Four cardinal virtues: Prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance.
- Moral virtues are "purified and elevated" by divine grace.
Theological virtues: Faith, hope, charity—these have God as their direct object.
- These "inform all the moral virtues and give life to them." (Catechism 1841)

5. Christian Life: Living in Gifts and Bearing Fruit (21:00–22:00)

Encourages patience as fruits grow over time, just as fruit ripens in a season.
Sometimes, growth in a particular fruit (e.g., patience or faithfulness) is prompted by life’s tests and challenges.
- "You know how fruit comes about in our lives, the spiritual fruit? It usually comes about in our lives because we need that fruit." — Fr. Mike (20:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the purpose of the gifts:
"These gifts of the Holy Spirit...make us docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. They open us up, not—they don’t take over us. We’re not like puppets...but they make us docile, which means I’m open to being taught, I’m open to being moved." (08:00)
On evaluating spiritual fruit:
"We can evaluate this in some ways by looking and saying, well, do I have more charity than I had before or less? Do I have more joy in my life or less?" (19:50)
On growth through struggles:
"It usually comes about in our lives because we need that fruit…my patience is being tested, and now it has an opportunity to grow." (20:54)
Encouragement for the journey:
"Be patient in asking God for those gifts of the Holy Spirit. Be patient in allowing God to bring forth in your life those fruits of the Holy Spirit...He wants to give you those gifts. He wants to bring forth in you those fruits." (21:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

[03:00] – Fr. Mike’s gratitude and encouragement for listeners’ perseverance
[05:00] – Introduction to gifts and fruits; overview of reading
[08:00] – Explanation of gifts of the Holy Spirit and their purpose
[10:40–14:43] – Definitions and distinctions of each of the seven gifts
[17:30] – Difference between gifts and fruits
[18:25] – List and explanation of the fruits of the Spirit
[19:50] – How to recognize and evaluate spiritual fruit in your life
[20:54] – Growth in fruits often comes through trials
[21:40] – Final words of encouragement and call to patience

Episode Tone & Style

Fr. Mike’s delivery is warm, encouraging, and practical. He uses humor and personal anecdotes to make complex theological concepts accessible. Memorable analogies (like the fruit tree) help listeners connect deeply with spiritual truths, and his tone is pastoral and affirming throughout.

Summary Takeaways

Gifts of the Holy Spirit are empowering, permanent dispositions that make us receptive and strong in virtue; they are given, not earned.
Fruits of the Holy Spirit naturally grow within us as visible evidence of a life lived in the Spirit; their growth often corresponds with our trials and perseverance.
The distinction between gifts and fruits is crucial, and both are signs of God’s loving work in us.
Growth is gradual—be patient and attentive to the subtle increases in virtue and spiritual fruit over time.
Fr. Mike’s final encouragement: show up, keep pursuing God, and trust that He is cultivating both gifts and fruits in your life.

“He wants to give you those gifts. He wants to bring forth in you those fruits.” — Fr. Mike Schmitz (21:40)