SACRED LOVE CONTAINS THE TWELVE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF THE GOSPEL
The glorious St Paul says, The fruit ofthe Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, long-suffering, gentleness, faith, modesty, continence, chastity (Gal 5:22-23). But note, Theotimus, that this divine Apostle, counting these twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit, sets them down as a single fruit. For he does not say, the fruits of the Spirit are charity, joy... but only the fruit ofthe Spirit is charity, joy... Now the mystery of this way of speaking is this: The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us (Rom 5:5). Truly, charity is the only fruit of the Holy Spirit. But since this fruit has an infinity of excellent properties, the Apostle who wants to mention some of them by way of example, speaks of this unique fruit as of many because of the multitude of properties it contains in its unity. Conversely he speaks of all these fruits as of one only, by reason of the unity in which this variety is contained. So also one who would say that the fruit of the vine is grapes, must[1], wine, brandy, the drink to gladden the human heart (Ps 104:15), the beverage that comforts the stomach, does not mean that they are fruits of different species but only that, although it is only one single fruit it has many different properties, according as it is differently used.
Therefore, all the Apostle wants to say is that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is charity which is joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, long-suffering, gentle, faithful, modest, continent, chaste. That is, that divine love gives us interior joy and consolation with great peace of heart which is preserved in adversity by patience. It makes us gracious and kind in helping our neighbour by a wholehearted goodness towards him. This goodness is not changeable but constant and preserving, giving us a long-suffering heart by means of which we become gentle, pleasant and considerate to all. We put up with their moods and imperfections. We keep perfect faith with them, testifying to a simplicity accompanied with trust as much in our words as in our actions. We live modestly and humbly, setting aside all that is luxurious and improper in food and drink, clothing, sleep, games, recreations and other such desires for pleasure by holy continence. Above all, we curb the inclinations and rebellions of sexuality by a vigilant chastity. All this is to ensure that our whole person becomes occupied in holy loving, interiorly by joy, peace, patience, long-suffering, goodness, and fidelity, as also exteriorly by kindness, gentleness, modesty, continence and chastity.
Now charity is called a fruit since it delights us and we enjoy its delicious sweetness. It is like a true apple of Paradise, taken from the tree of life (Rev 22:2)which is the Holy Spirit, grafted on our human spirits and dwelling in us by his infinite mercy. But when we not only rejoice in this divine love and enjoy its delicious sweetness, also placing all our glory in it as in the crown of our honour, then it is more than a fruit delightful to our palate. It is also a most desirable beatitude and felicity. This is not only because it assures us of the felicity in the next life, but also because even in this life it enriches us with a contentment of inestimable value. This contentment is so strong that all the waters of tribulation and the floods of persecution cannot extinguish it (Song 8:7). Not only does it not perish but it is enriched in the midst of poverty, it is exalted when despised and humiliated, it rejoices amid tears, it is strengthened when forsaken by justice and deprived of its help, imploring it and no one granting it. It is renewed in the midst of compassion and commiseration when surrounded by the miserable and suffering. It takes delight in renouncing all sorts of sensual and worldly delights to obtain purity and cleanness of heart. It places its valour in stilling wars, quarrels and dissensions, and in despising temporal grandeurs and reputations. it grows stronger by enduring all sorts of sufferings. It holds that its true life consist in dying for the Beloved (Mt 5:3-12; Lk 6:20-23).
In brief, Theotimus, most holy charity is a virtue, a gift, a fruit and a beatitude. As a virtue it makes us obedient to the exterior inspirations which God gives us through his commandments and counsels. In keeping them we practise all the virtues, hence love is the virtue of all virtues. As a gift charity, makes us docile and responsive to interior inspirations. These are, as it were, God’s secret commandments and counsels. In their fulfillment the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are used and so love is the gift of gifts. As a fruit it gives us an extreme relish and pleasure in the practice of the devout life which is felt in the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit, and therefore it is the fruit of fruits. As a beatitude it makes us receive the affronts, calumnies, revilings and insults which the world heaps upon us as the greatest of favours and a special honour. It also leads us to forsake, renounce and reject all glory except that which comes from the Beloved Crucified (Gal 6:14). For this glory we glory in our own self-abasement, self-renunciation and self-obliteration. We desire no other marks of majesty than the crown of thorns of the Crucified, his sceptre of reed, the robe of mockery put on him and the throne of his cross. On this throne sacred lovers have more content, joy, glory and happiness than Solomon ever had on his ivory throne.
Thus love is often represented by the pomegranate.[2] As this fruit takes its properties from the pomegranate tree, it may be said to be the virtue of that tree. Again it seems to be its gift which it offers to people out of love. And it is its fruit, since it is eaten to please human taste. It is finally the tree’s glory and beatitude, so to speak, since it bears a crown and diadem.
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[1] Unfermented wine or grape juice. It is also called mustum.
[2] See TLG Bk. VI, Ch.13