Book Access - "The Gift of Wisdom" Ch. 16 of "Virtue Stands in the Middle" Dr. Gustafson

Chapter 16

Dr. Christopher Gustafson, STD is a Catholic theologian in the United States. GPQ did an interview with him in January of 2022 on his upcoming book, Virtue Stands in the Middle, which you can access  here. More recently, GPQ talked with Dr. Gustafson regarding the virtue of digital temperance, which is available here. Dr. Gustafson has graciously offered to share parts of his upcoming book on virtue. The work not only delves in Catholic tradition and teaching on virtue and vice, but offers access to many images of the symbolism and iconographic tradition of the Seven Lady Virtues. Below is access to chapter sixteen. 

"Definition: Wisdom enables one to judge of God and divine things in their ultimate principles and gives us a relish for them. The gift of wisdom crowns the entire Christian life. It is different than human wisdom. While human wisdom comes about through man’s effort to gather insight into human and divine things, the gift of wisdom “comes down from above” (James 3:15). Wisdom is a special participation in God’s own knowledge. It is a gift from God. St. Hildegard of Bingen gave wisdom a voice in her poetry, “I, the fiery life of divine wisdom, I ignite the beauty of the plains, I sparkle the water, I burn in the sun, and the moon, and the stars. With wisdom I order all rightly.” St. Hildegard prays for this gift, “Holy Wisdom, Soaring Power, encompass us with wings unfurled, and carry us, encircling all, above, below, and through the world.” Pope St. John Paul the Great notes that wisdom is the first and greatest of the gifts: 'It is a special sharing in that mysterious and highest knowledge which is that of God himself.'"