Shadowing Practice: The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit | Catholic Teaching for Kids - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Hey there, welcome to this Catechism for Kids episode.
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Hey there, welcome to this Catechism for Kids episode.
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In this episode, we're going to talk about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
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Do you remember at your last church or mass,
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you were confirmed, you received special gifts from God?
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These are called the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
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So let's learn what they are.
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If you received the Sacrament of Confirmation as a teenager,
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you were most likely asked to memorize a list of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit as part of your preparation.
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As Catholic Christians, we believe that the sacraments of baptism and confirmation indelibly mark us as belonging to Christ.
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The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in these sacraments also makes us more attuned to God's voice in our lives.
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And it is through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
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that we are strengthened each day in becoming the person that God created each of us to be.
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The gifts of the Holy Spirit are first mentioned in the Old Testament.
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The prophet Isaiah describes the ideal Davidic king with these words.
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The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
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a spirit of wisdom and of understanding.
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A spirit of counsel and of strength,
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a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.
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Isaiah 11, 2, 2-3 Our Christian faith teaches us that Jesus,
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the Son of God, expressed each of these attributes of the Spirit of the Lord in their perfect fullness.
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Because of our participation in Christ,
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we too are given a share of each of these gifts of the Spirit.
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Jesus himself assured us of this when he promised that his Father would send the Holy Spirit upon us in his name,
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to teach us everything and remind us of all that he told us.
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John 14, 26 It is through these seven gifts wisdom,
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understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety,
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and fear of the Lord,
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that we grow in holiness and are continually reminded of God's loving presence within us and around us.
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It is easy to consider the gifts of the Holy Spirit only in the abstract,
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without deeply pondering the ways in which they are a part of our everyday lives
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because of God's goodness and generosity towards us.
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In reality, these seven gifts have a variety of expressions that are unique to us as individuals.
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In my own life, I have sometimes experienced fear of the Lord most deeply
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when looking up at the stars in the countryside on a clear summer's night.
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I am reminded of God's infinite power and majesty and His care for the universe and all that is in it.
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This fear of the Lord is not related to being afraid,
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but rather consists in being filled with immense wonder and reverence for the One,
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to whom we owe our very existence and the existence of all that surrounds us.
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Maybe you have experienced the same feeling towards God during a breathtaking sunset
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or during a significant moment of physical or emotional healing.
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These are expressions of fear of the Lord,
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a gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Pope Francis has spoken at length about each of the seven gifts
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and I would like to share some of his descriptions here along with a few comments.
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Gift of wisdom, both the knowledge of and judgment about divine things,
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and the ability to judge and direct human affairs according to divine truth.
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One way to think about the gift of wisdom is
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that it affords us with a supernatural lens with which to view ourselves,
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others, and all of creation.
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It helps us to perceive truth,
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beauty, and goodness, and to distinguish those elements from the contrary.
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First gift, wisdom may come to our aid.
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For example, when we encounter a person panhandling on a street corner.
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Instead of reacting in a way that leads us to ignore or judge this person and their circumstances.
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Wisdom gives us the eyes to see this man or woman as a brother or sister in Christ.
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We may then be moved to pray for them
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or even extend our hand in charity rather than turn a blind eye towards them.
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Gift of understanding, penetrating insight into the very heart of things,
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especially those higher truths that are necessary for our eternal salvation,
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in effect, the ability to see God.
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The gift of understanding helps us to ponder deeply.
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and constant love for each one of us.
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It grants us keen insights into how the Holy Spirit is actively at work in our daily routines,
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so that we may better serve the Lord by building his kingdom here on earth.
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For example, the gift of understanding may help us to recognize our God-given talents to a greater extent,
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and then discern how to best use them in the service of faith.
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Justice and evangelization.
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Gift of counsel.
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The gift through which the Holy Spirit enables our conscience to make a concrete choice in communion with God.
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According to the logic of Jesus and his gospel,
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I often associate this gift with the virtue of prudence.
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Counsel nurtures our interior sensitivity to our conscience and then aids us in taking the right action with the right intention.
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We have experienced the gift of counsel when perhaps we were tempted to gossip about a friend or colleague behind their back,
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but then refrained from doing so.
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Gift of knowledge, the ability to judge correctly about matters of faith
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and right action so as to never wander from the straight path of justice.
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This kind of knowledge goes beyond human knowledge and imparts to us knowledge
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that can only be received through divine gift in noticing the beauty
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and the mystery of creation all around us one receives intimate knowledge of the Creator
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and author of all that has been all that is
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and all that will be one way that knowledge expresses itself is
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when we recognize in the depths of our heart
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that there is absolutely nothing we can do to earn God's love
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or to get on his good side rather the recognition by our souls of the unconditional nature of God's love
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and mercy for us is one form of true knowledge.
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Gift of fortitude denotes a firmness of mind in doing good and in avoiding evil,
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particularly when it is difficult or dangerous to do so,
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and the confidence to overcome all obstacles,
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even deadly ones, by virtue of the assurance of everlasting life.
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The grace of fortitude grants us courage and perseverance so that we may continue to co-labor with Jesus in serving others.
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It helps us to grow in faith,
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hope, and love, and to cast off doubt,
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despair, and destructive patterns of thinking.
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Fortitude prevents us from becoming faint of heart,
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and it sustains us in the most trying of circumstances so that we can hold fast to our faith in good works.
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Gift of Piety.
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Principally revering God with filial affection,
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paying worship and duty to God,
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paying due duty to all men on account of their relationship to God,
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and honoring the saints and not contradicting scripture.
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The Latin word pietas denotes the reverence that we give to our Father and to our country.
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Since God is the Father of all,
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the worship of God is also called piety.
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With the gift of piety,
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the Holy Spirit enables us to pray to our Father in heaven with childlike trust and confidence.
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We offer our praise and thanksgiving to the one who continually draws us toward God's
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like one who raises an infant to their cheeks.
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Hosea 11-4.
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The gift of piety, for example,
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is responsible for those instances where we find ourselves praying to the Lord as if by reflex,
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without hesitation or prior planning.
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In a way, piety reveals our acceptance of the fact
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that we are radically dependent on God for all that we need and most deeply desire.
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Lastly, gift of fear of the Lord.
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In this context, filial or chaste fear,
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whereby we revere God and avoid separating ourselves from him as opposed to servile fear,
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whereby we fear punishment.
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Fear of the Lord is a loving and profound reverence for God,
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rooted in the knowledge and understanding that it is in him that we live and move and have our being.
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Acts 17 28.
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There are moments in time and space in which the transcendent is immediately felt.
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And these give us opportunities to reflect on who we are before the Creator.
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Fear of the Lord cultivates our sense of wonder and awe in the presence of God who is sacred mystery.
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So these are the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives us.
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Do you want to receive these gifts?
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Well, you already have.
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But if you would like to ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize these gifts and to grow in these gifts,
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then here's a prayer that you can pray.
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Dear Holy Spirit, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Help me to recognize these gifts and to use them to grow in my love for you,
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my courage and my faith,
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my knowledge of your word,
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my piety and prayer and worship,
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and my reverence and awe of your presence in my life.
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Amen.
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Well, I hope that you enjoyed this episode of Catechism for Kids.
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Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
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and remember stay safe, stay happy and stay holy.
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Why practice speaking with this video?
This engaging video about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit provides an excellent opportunity for English learners to enhance their speaking skills. By practicing with this content, you can connect faith-based themes with practical language use. This context allows you to express your thoughts on spirituality and morality while improving your vocabulary related to the topic. As you emulate the speaker's expressions and intonations, you'll not only refine your English speaking practice but also gain confidence in discussing complex subjects.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
The video uses several key structures that can significantly aid in improving your English speaking abilities:
- “The gifts of the Holy Spirit are…” - This structure introduces lists and is useful for learners to describe related concepts. You can practice this by creating your own lists on various subjects.
- “It is easy to consider…” - This phrase introduces a reflective statement. Using this form to express your thoughts allows for smoother transitions when discussing different viewpoints.
- “Maybe you have experienced…” - This conditional phrase invites personal reflection and engagement. Practicing this structure can enhance your ability to share personal anecdotes, making your speech more relatable.
- “One way to think about…” - This expression is effective for explaining ideas. Utilize it in your conversations to introduce your interpretations or insights on various topics.
Common Pronunciation Traps
As you practice, be mindful of the following pronunciation challenges found in the video:
- “Wisdom” - The “w” sound and the vowel sound in this word can be tricky. Practice articulating it clearly to ensure you convey your thoughts effectively.
- “Fear of the Lord” - The phrase can be difficult due to the combination of vowel sounds. Break the phrase down into syllables to master it and use it naturally.
- “Counsel” and “fortitude” - These two words have distinct vowel sounds which can trip learners up. Paying special attention to each syllable will help you improve English pronunciation.
Incorporating the shadowing technique while listening to the video will further assist you in mastering these pronunciations. By repeating phrases in real-time, you’ll become more attuned to the rhythm and flow of the language, thus enhancing your ability to converse fluently.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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