What is Knowledge?

Our connection to everything

By Giada Amendolara and Caterina Santangelo, Grade 8

St. Bernadette Catholic Academy

The Gift of Knowledge, can be defined as “The gift of knowing and enlightening.” Knowledge allows us to know God and learn about God through human intelligence. Knowledge represents our connection and our relationship with all life. Knowledge has a specific mission for us in our lives, a mission in which we are encouraged to discover, accept, incorporate, and fulfill. In other words, knowledge is our connection to everything.

Real knowledge isn’t just memorizing facts, it is what God wants us to know and believe to the level that it guides our lives. It is knowing who you are and why you are here. Knowledge is not something that just happens, it is something you have to work for and combine with faith in God.

“Self-knowledge puts us on our knees, and it is very necessary for love,” shared St. Teresa of Calcutta. “For knowledge of God gives love, and knowledge of self gives humility.” “Self-knowledge puts us on our knees.” As the first words of this quote, from our point of view, we feel that self-knowledge is understanding ourselves, our motives, and our character. Self-knowledge can be a hard thing to face because we see our flaws, but then we realize our need for God and we cannot do this on our own. That leads to humility. Humility allows us to put our gifts and strengths to God and allow him to direct our use of these gifts for Him.

The words of St. Bonaventure’s prayer, “May he impart to us the gift of knowledge, which will enable us to discern your teaching and distinguish well from evil”, is taking to heart the knowledge we have and acting on it. If knowledge only affects the mind and not the heart, what good is it? The key to knowledge is to let God speak to you and to reveal to you His deepest and most beautiful truths. These truths can only be received and believed through prayer; through direct communication with God. The gift of knowledge allows us to see the truths of our faith and live out those truths, particularly when it comes to letting go of material wealth and seeking the true will of God.