By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit: (1) we are given sanctifying grace, the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Theological and Cardinal Virtues; (2) our weakness of soul is healed; (3) we are helped to overcome our evil desires and selfishness and to practice virtues such as charity and patience; and (4) our prayers and lives are made pleasing to God.

1. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are given sanctifying grace, the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Theological and Cardinal Virtues.

Sanctifying grace is a sharing in God’s own divine nature and life. The seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are capacities to receive and use seven kinds of divine light from Christ’s fullness of truth. The Theological and Cardinal Virtues are capacities to receive and use seven kinds of divine power from Christ’s fullness of grace (cf. Jn 1:14, 16). In order to live in us, the Holy Spirit gives us these supernatural gifts.

2. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our weakness of soul is healed.

The Holy Spirit gives us actual graces, those special divine lights, powers, and helps that enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills so that we can do good and avoid evil. The seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Theological and Cardinal Virtues give us the capacity to receive and use these graces in order to make acts and develop habits of the gifts and virtues.

3. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are helped to overcome our evil desires and selfishness and to practice virtues such as charity and patience.

As a result of Original Sin, the desires and tendencies of our bodies tempt us to do things unworthy of a Christian. These tendencies are called Capital Sins—sins of impurity, sloth, gluttony, anger, envy, pride, and avarice. Evil persons, places, and things can also lead us into sin. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to lead good Christian lives. If we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, and if we use the help of His actual graces, we will overcome these Capital Sins, preserve God’s divine life of sanctifying grace in our souls, live as His children, and grow in the habits of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and of the Theological and Cardinal Virtues.

4. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our prayers and lives are made pleasing to God.

The Holy Spirit helps us to develop our love of God and to keep and deepen our friendship with Him by prayer. Because it is the Holy Spirit Himself who inspires and guides our prayers, they are pleasing to God. The graces we receive in prayer help us to grow in our imitation of Jesus and our resemblance to Him, making our lives pleasing to God.