The Three Wisdoms

"Set your minds on the things that are above" Colossians 3:2

The belief in the "three wisdoms" originates with the Prophet Isaiah's identification of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord (piety). And his delight shall be the fear of the Lord (awe)" Isaiah 11:2-3.

Four of these gifts relate to the intellect. Knowledge, understanding and wisdom form the basis of the "three wisdoms" while counsel helps us apply these "three wisdoms" to a given situation. Historically, knowledge is related to natural knowledge (i.e. philosophy or physical science), understanding is related to theological knowledge and wisdom is related to contemplative or mystical knowledge. Since God gave us each of these "wisdoms," they can never be in true conflict with each other. Indeed, they are called to form a hierarchy by which the mind ascends to encounter God:

"Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of God." Pope John Paul II. Fides et Ratio, Prologue

To be fully alive, we must operate at the level of all three wisdoms. Paradisus Dei seeks to form individuals in the use of the "three wisdoms" by harmonizing the findings of modern science with theology while providing a vision that touches the divine. Let the journey begin.