Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. But grace also includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us to associate us with his work, to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church...There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul* and meaning "favour", "gratuitous gift", "benefit". Whatever their character - sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues - charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.
Catechism, #2003
* 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
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The particular manifestation of the Spirit granted to each one is to be used for the general good. To one is given from the Spirit the gift of utterance expressing wisdom; to another gift of utterance expressing knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; to another, faith, from the same Spirit; and to another, the gifts of healing, through this one Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another the power of distinguishing spirits; to one, the gift of different tongues and to another, the interpretation of tongues. But at work in all these is one and the same Spirit, distributing them at will to each individual.
How wonderful that the Catechism of the Catholic Church states authoritatively that the charisms of the Holy Spirit are normative in the life of a Christian! This means that all of us who are baptized into Jesus are endowed with "benefits" that equip us to build up the Body of Christ on earth, thus fulfilling to some degree, the law of charity. These charisms, which are part and parcel of our inheritance as Catholics, have always been, and will continue to be available to us until the end of time. They have never been intended as a "one-time deal", as though people living at the time of the apostles needed these gifts more than we do in our present millennium! More than ever, as darkness grows upon the earth, we need people who will boldly move out in faith, asking the Holy Spirit to release these gifts for the "common good of the Church". Come Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth! 🕊