The Fear of the Lord: What It Means and Why It Is a Gift
Quick answer
The fear of the Lord is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is not being afraid of God. It is a loving reverence for His greatness, joined with a desire never to be separated from Him. Scripture calls it the beginning of wisdom.
Key takeaways
- The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord (CCC 1831).
- St. Thomas Aquinas distinguished servile fear of punishment from filial fear, the fear of a loving child.
- Scripture calls the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).
- Perfect love casts out fear of punishment, but it deepens our reverence (1 John 4:18).
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10, Douay-Rheims). For a good many people, the phrase seems strange. Why should we fear a God who is love?
The answer lies in what the Bible means by the word fear.
One of the Seven Gifts
The fear of the Lord is among the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, drawn from the prophet Isaiah’s description of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1-3). These gifts make us ready to follow the promptings of the Spirit (CCC 1830-1831). They are strengthened in Confirmation (CCC 1303).
The full list is wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
Not Terror but Reverence
In 2014, Pope Francis explained that this gift does not mean being afraid of God, because we know that God is our Father, who always loves and forgives us. It reminds us instead of how small we are before God and His love.
Think of the way we feel about someone we deeply love and respect. We would hate to hurt that person. Holy fear is like that.
Two Kinds of Fear
St. Thomas Aquinas distinguished between two kinds of fear (Summa Theologiae II-II, q. 19):
- Servile fear turns from sin mainly because of the punishment it brings.
- Filial fear is the fear of a loving child, who does not want to be separated from the Father.
The Catechism says something similar. If we turn from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of slaves. If we pursue the good because of love, we are in the position of children (CCC 1828).
Fear of punishment is not worthless. It can be the start of a return to God. But it is meant to grow into love. “Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18, Douay-Rheims).
What Holy Fear Looks Like
- A sense of awe in the presence of God, especially at Mass.
- A sorrow for sin that comes from love.
- A freedom from fearing what others think, because God comes first.
- A humility that remembers we are creatures.
A Prayer for Holy Fear (Original Prayer)
Holy Spirit, fill my heart with awe. Teach me to love God as my Father, and never to wish to be parted from Him. Free me from every lesser fear. Amen.
Continue Reading
Learn about the Holy Spirit prayer, or read the Church’s teaching on hell and heaven.
Frequently asked questions
Should Christians be afraid of God?
Not in the sense of terror. God is a loving Father. Holy fear is a reverence that does not want to offend the One we love.
What is the difference between servile and filial fear?
Servile fear avoids sin mainly because of punishment. Filial fear avoids sin because we love God and do not want to hurt our relationship with Him. Even the first can start us on the right road.
What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. They are drawn from Isaiah 11:1-3 and are strengthened in Confirmation.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1303, 1828, 1830-1831
- St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae II-II, q. 19
- Pope Francis, General Audience on the Fear of the Lord (June 11, 2014)
- Proverbs 9:10; Isaiah 11:1-3; Psalm 110:10; 1 John 4:18
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