Q. 699. {177} Which are the gifts of the Holy Ghost?  A. The gifts of the Holy Ghost are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.

Q. 700. {178} Why do we receive the gift of Fear of the Lord?  A. We receive the gift of Fear of the Lord to fill us with a dread of sin.

Q. 701. {179} Why do we receive the gift of Piety?  A. We receive the gift of Piety to make us love God as a Father, and obey Him because we love Him.

Q. 702. {180} Why do we receive the gift of Knowledge?  A. We receive the gift of Knowledge to enable us to discover the will of God in all things.

Q. 703. {181} Why do we receive the gift of Fortitude?  A. We receive the gift of Fortitude to strengthen us to do the will of God in all things.

Q. 704. {182} Why do we receive the gift of Counsel?  A. We receive the gift of Counsel to warn us of the deceits of the devil, and of the dangers to salvation.

Q. 705.  How is it clear that the devil could easily deceive us if the Holy Ghost did not aid us?  A. It is clear that the devil could easily deceive us if the Holy Ghost did not aid us, for just as our sins do not deprive us of our knowledge, so the devil’s sin did not deprive him of the great intelligence and power which he possessed as an angel.  Moreover, his experience in the world extends over all ages and places, while ours is confined to a few years and to a limited number of places.

Q. 706. {183} Why do we receive the gift of Understanding?  A. We receive the gift of Understanding to enable us to know more clearly the mysteries of faith.

Q. 707. {184} Why do we receive the gift of Wisdom?  A. We receive the gift of Wisdom to give us a relish for the things of God, and to direct our whole life and all our actions to His honor and glory.

Q. 708. {185} Which are the Beatitudes? 
A. The Beatitudes are: 

1.  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 2.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. 3.  Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. 4.  Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall
   be filled.
5.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 6.  Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. 7.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of
   God.
8.  Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for
   theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Q. 709.  What are the Beatitudes and why are they so called?  A. The Beatitudes are a portion of Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, and they are so called because each of them holds out a promised reward to those who practice the virtues they recommend.

Q. 710.  Where did Our Lord usually preach?  A. Our Lord usually preached wherever an opportunity of doing good by His Words presented itself.  He preached at times in the synagogues or meeting-houses but more frequently in the open air—­by the seashore or on the mountain, and often by the wayside.