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Appendix A. Glossary • 513
FATHERS OF THE CHURCH:
Church teachers and writers of the
early centuries whose teachings are
a crucial witness to the Tradition of
the Church.
FILIAL LOVE:
The love that
children owe their parents through
respect, gratitude, just obedience,
and assistance.
FORTITUDE:
The Cardinal Virtue
by which one courageously and
firmly chooses the good despite dif-
ficulty and also perseveres in doing
what is right despite temptation,
fear, or persecution.
FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Tradition of the Church lists
twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, generosity, gentleness,
faithfulness, modesty, self-control,
and chastity (cf. CCC, no. 1832).
FULL COMMUNION
(RECEPTION INTO):
This
refers to the entrance of baptized
Christians of other Christian
ecclesial communions into full com-
munion with the Catholic Church,
through a profession of faith and
the Sacraments of Confirmation
and the Eucharist.
-G-
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
These gifts are permanent disposi-
tions that move us to respond to the
guidance of the Spirit. The tradi-
tional list of these gifts is derived
from Isaiah 11:1-3: wisdom,
understanding, knowledge, counsel,
fortitude, reverence (piety), and
wonder and awe in God’s presence
(fear of the Lord).
GLUTTONY:
The Capital Sin
that describes actions of eating
and drinking more than what
is necessary.
GNOSTICISM:
In the first
Christian centuries, this blend of
Christianity and paganism denied
that Jesus was human and sought
salvation through occult “wis-
dom.” The earliest Church Fathers,
especially St. Ignatius of Antioch,
rejected the Gnostics and vigorously
defended the humanity of Jesus
Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit
in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
who gave birth to Jesus.
GOD:
The eternal unchanging
being who created all that is and
who continues to oversee and guide
all things. Through the centuries,
God has revealed himself to us
as one being who is a Trinity of
Persons—Father, Son, and Holy