Wisdom is the first and highest gift of the Holy Spirit. It makes the soul responsive to God in the contemplation of divine things. Where faith is a simple knowledge of the articles of Christian belief, wisdom goes on to a certain divine penetration of the truths themselves. Built into wisdom is the element of love, which inspires contemplative reflection on these divine mysteries, rejoices dwelling on them, and directs the mind to judge all things according to their principles (Catholic Dictionary). Simply put, wisdom is seeing things from God's perspective. 

Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show: Ed P; Cindy K; Regina L; Jo K; Maribel M; Mary R; Julie F, and Roger D for loving and lifting me! Friends of the Show get all Premium Content!

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on Sonja's method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary.

L - Listen (Receive the Word via audio or video.)

O - Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

What event or circumstance in your life do you need God's perspective on? What does God's promise of wisdom in James 1:5 tell you about that?

V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

O God, Who instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, Grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen +

Show Notes

Topics Discussed:

Plato and Thomas Aquinas, biblical "wisdom", St. Athanasius on wisdom

Overview:

Minutes 00:12:00 – History of the O Antiphons, wisdom defined, Plato and Thomas Aquinas, cardinal virtues   

Minutes 12:01-24:00 – Old Testament and New Testament uses of "wisdom", biblical personification of wisdom

Minutes 24:01-36:00 – Three types of wisdom: the art of living, thinking deeply, and wisdom from God

Minutes 36:01-48:00 – St. Athanasius on wisdom; wisdom as seeing things from God's perspective

Resources

The art for the series is by The Homely Hours, available here. 

Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app!

Facebook Discussion Community

We're talking over on the Bible Study Evangelista Facebook Discussion page. Come chat with us.

Read the Transcript

Download a complete, word-for-word transcript.

Protected Content. Click Here to sign in