THE UNION OF THE SAINTS WITH GOD IN THE VISION OF THE PROCEEDING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The eternal Father sees the essence of his infinite goodness and beauty. It is expressed so vividly, essentially, and substantially in his Son. The Son reciprocally sees that his same essence, goodness and beauty are originally in his Father as its source and wellspring. Ah! could it be possible for this divine Father and his Son not to love one another with infinite love? Their will by which they love and their goodness for which they love are both infinite.
Love, not finding us equal, makes us so. If it finds us divided, it unites us. The Father and the Son find themselves not only equal and united but one same God, one same goodness, one same essence, one same unity. What a mutual love must they have! This love, however, does not act like the love that intelligent creatures have for one another or for their Creator. Created love is expressed by many different yearnings, sighs, unions and intimacies. They succeed one another to give continuation of love with a sweet variation of spiritual inspiration. The divine love of the eternal Father for his Son is expressed in a single breath. It is mutually sent forth by the Father and the Son. Thus they remain united and bound together. Yes, my Theotimus, the goodness of the Father and the Son is but one sole most uniquely unique goodness common to both. The love of this goodness is also a unique love. Although there are two lovers, namely the Father and the Son, the goodness which they love is unique and common to both. Their will by which they love is also unique. Hence there is only one single love expressed by a single loving spiration (soupir)22. The Father breathes out this love; so does the Son. The Father breathes out the love only by the same will and for the same goodness equally and uniquely in him and in his Son. The Son mutually breathes out this loving spiration only by the same goodness and the same will. Therefore this breath of love is only a single spiration issuing from two Persons who breathe out.
The Father and the Son, who breathe out, have one essence and one infinite will by which they breathe. Since the goodness for which they breathe out is infinite, the breath cannot but be infinite. In so far as it is not infinite, it is not God. Therefore this Spirit breathed from the Father and Son is true God, because there can be only one God, with the Father and the Son. Moreover, since the love is an act that proceeds mutually from the Father and the Son, he is neither the Father nor the Son, although from them he has proceeded, and he has the same goodness and substance of the Father and the Son. So he should be a third divine Person who is with the Father and the Son, but only one God. Inasmuch as this love is produced by way of breath or aspiration, it is called the Holy Spirit.
Theotimus, King David describes the sweetness of friendship of God’s servants as he cries out:
How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down overthe collar ofhis robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains ofZion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore (Ps 133).23
Oh! God, if human friendship is so pleasant and loving and spreads so delightful a fragrance on those who contemplate it, then what shall it be, my beloved Theotimus, to see the sacred practice of mutual love of the Father towards the eternal Son! St Gregory Nazianzen narrates how unparalleled a friendship he had with the great St Basil. It was renowned throughout Greece. Tertullian testifies that the non-Christians were full of admiration for the fraternal love that reigned among the early Christians.
Oh! What a Feast! What a Solemnity! With what praise and blessing we should celebrate the eternal and supreme friendship of the Father and of the Son! What is loveable and amiable if not friendship? If friendship is to be loved and admired, whose friendship can be such in comparison with the infinite friendship between the Father and the Son? With him [Holy Spirit] is one and same most unique God. Our heart, Theotimus, will find itself lost in love by the beauty and sweetness of God’s love. It is practised by the eternal Father and his incomprehensible Son divinely and eternally.