The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are what, in seven different ways, make us docile to the action of the Holy Spirit. In the Catechism (#1830), it’s put like this:

The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Saint Thomas goes so far as to say that, even if we had faith, hope, and charity, without the Gifts, we human beings would be stupid enough to damn ourselves. (Ouch.)

Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange OP says that this makes the Gifts

doubly supernatural, not only in their essence like the theological virtues, but also in their mode of action.

In other words, the action begins with the Holy Spirit and we receive it. The Holy Spirit directs immediately, because that is what reception of the Gifts lets us him (and us) do. To operate continually in this regime of action is the goal of Christian life in this world, whether one identifies or is identified as contemplative, active, or active-contemplative.

What seems to me very clear about this way of thinking is that, for everyone being directly guided by the Holy Spirit, contemplation is occurring. The contemplative Gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge are present; thus, one is loving God by being like him through love.

This is true for someone with an active life, led by the Holy Spirit. It is true for someone with an active-contemplative life. It is true for someone with a contemplative life. Every one of these states of life can have contemplation as a key ingredient.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit clarify that for us.

I think they put something else in perspective, too: What is a “contemplative life”, as opposed to an “active life”?

The Holy Spirit leads each person by all seven Gifts. But if I’m led primarily and predominantly by those “promptings” for Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord, then I’m being led primarily into action. Meanwhile, if I’m led primarily and predominantly by those “promptings” for Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge, then I’m being led primarily into contemplation.

Where the Holy Spirit chooses to place such lives is immaterial. One could be a contemplative (in the sense of “live a contemplative life”) in the cloister or on the road. It’s up to the Holy Spirit’s plan and actions.

This is a deep meaning to the idea of “an active life” or “a contemplative life”. Neither is designed by appearances. Human beings judge by appearances; God judges the heart.