"But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity..." (Galatians 5:22-23)
"The fruit of the Spirit, says St. Paul, is charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. We must observe that the Apostle at first mentions only one fruit of the Holy Ghost, though he afterward enumerates twelve. He speaks in the singular number, saying the fruit of the Holy Ghost is charity, joy, etc. Let us endeavor to penetrate the mystery concealed in this method of speaking. The Holy Ghost enters our soul when we are converted from iniquity to righteousness, and diffuses charity in our hearts; this is the fruit of the Spirit of which the Apostle speaks. This fruit possesses an infinite number of excellent properties; therefore the Apostle, in enumerating them, speaks of them as different fruits to distinguish them more clearly, but he reduces all these different properties to unity, by attributing them to one fruit. . . . The meaning of his words is, that the fruit of the Spirit is charity, which is joyful, peaceable, patient, benignant, indulgent, long-suffering, gentle, faithful, moderate, continent, and chaste." St. Francis of Sales, Love of God
"Charity is called a fruit, from its sweet and attractive qualities; it is a fruit of paradise, culled from the tree of life — that is, proceeding from the Holy Ghost, who animates the soul, and deigns to repose therein. ... Its influence is never more perfectly felt than when persons are forsaken by all the world; it discovers to them ineffable consolations and delights amidst their sufferings and humiliations, and leads them to compassionate the miserable by whom they are surrounded; their greatest happiness is to renounce the pleasures of the senses, to acquire and preserve purity of heart. . . . These truths prove that holy delection is at once a virtue, a fruit, a gift, and a beatitude. As a virtue it leads us to obey the inspirations which the Almighty gives us by means of His commandments and counsels; the practice of which includes all other virtues, whence we may conclude that charity is the virtue of virtues. As a gift, it renders us docile to interior inspirations, which may be considered the commandments and councils addressed by God to each individual; . . . whence it follows, that holy dilection is the gift of gifts. As a fruit it is the source of delights and consolations, which the twelve fruits of the Holy Ghost discover to us in the exercise of a perfect life; consequently, it may be called the fruit of fruits of the Spirit. As a beatitude, it leads us to consider insults, calumnies, affronts, and ignominy as a peculiar favor and privilege." St. Francis of Sales, Love of God
CALL TO ACTION: Pray for the Fruits of the Holy Ghost.
The gifts of the Holy Ghost perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Ghost, our service becomes more sincere and generous, the practice of virtue, more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation, and are known as Fruits of the Holy Ghost.
Source of quotations: "Fountain of Living Water" by Rev. A. A. Lambing LL.D., paragraph 1 - pages 52-53 & paragraph 2 - pages 65-66; Fr. Pustet & Co. Publishers and Booksellers (copyright 1907); Nihil Obstat: Remigius Lafort, S.T.L., Censor; Imprimatur: John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York
Photo by Jo Sonn