The gift of counsel contains all that is good in human prudence, and much more. It leads us always to pause and to turn our thoughts to God before we act; we avoid precipitation, rashness, and inconsiderate impulses. It makes us calm and deliberate, and teaches us never to act in any important matter without seeking guidance from God. This gift also shows us that it is God’s will to run counter to what the world considers prudent. So Abraham did when he left his home at God’s command, and went to the land which God chose for him, where the people of God were to live together and he was to be their spiritual as well as their real father. So David, when a poor boy, went out at God’s command to fight the giant, armed only with a stone and sling. Judith was moved by the same impulse when she went to the camp of Holofernes, and brought his head back into the city. It is also our duty that when we know the will of God we do it generously, no matter what difficulties may beset our paths. The gift of counsel will also put into our mouth that encouragement for others which will help them to lead a life of virtue and patience, remembering that the trials of life last but a short time. Prayer. Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc. Twenty‐third Day. The Holy Ghost also infuses into our soul the gift of piety—that loyal, tender, filial affection towards God as Our Father. “You have received,” says St. Paul, “the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry: Abba, Father.”—Rom. viii. 15. By this sacred gift we forget ourselves and cling only to God, Who is our support and help. We love God, and serve Him with alacrity, because He is Our Father in heaven. If I am a son of God, loyal to my Father in heaven, every act of mine, every thought, is centred in Him. Such was the intense love of the apostles for Our Lord; from the time when He chose them, the virtue of piety was implanted in them, though it was only perfected after the death of Christ. It was after the ascension of Our Lord, when the Holy Spirit had fully inspired this virtue in their souls, that they began to have a filial affection towards Our Lord, a keen attachment of love and affection. Do we realize the meaning of the gift of piety? We ought to be anxious to possess this virtue, because it makes the burden of the service of God easy: “where there is love, there is no labor.” Prayer. Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc. Twenty‐fourth Day.