20110620 Delightful fruits of the Divine Paraclete 師保聖神的美果
In the past two months we have explored the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which help us to practise virtues. The results of exercising virtues are the beatitudes and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are “supernatural works that, according to St. Paul, manifest the presence of the Holy Spirit. The one who performs them recognizes God’s presence by the happiness he experiences, and others the divine presence by witnessing these good works (listed in Gal 5:22-23). They are, in other words, identifiable effects of the Holy Spirit. In the Vulgate text they are: charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, and chastity” (Modern Catholic Dictionary).
These 12 fruits make us happy and contented, and help us to be more pleasing to both God and man. Father Adolphe Tanquerey, author of The Spiritual Life, defined the fruits of the Holy Spirit as “acts of virtue which reach a certain degree of perfection and fill the soul with holy joy.”
Glory of God
Father Francis Fernandez, author of the daily meditations series In Conversation with God, points out that the first three fruits: love (charity), joy, and peace, are signs of the glory of God.
Regarding charity, St. John Chrysostom said, “There is no sign or mark which distinguishes the Christian and the lover of Christ greater than the care of our brothers and sisters and zeal for the salvation of souls.”
The result of love, our union with God, is joy; and love and joy bring about the tranquility of order in the soul, which is peace.
Effective apostolate
According to Father Fernandez, patience and longanimity are important in the apostolate.
“Longanimity is like patience. It is a stable disposition by which we wait serenely, without complaint or bitterness and for as long as God wishes the deferrals willed or permitted by Him, before we reach the ascetic or apostolic targets which we set ourselves.”
“In the apostolate the patient person always has high targets, to the measure of God’s Will, although the immediate results may seem small, and uses all the human and supernatural means available, with a holy persistence and constancy.”
Kindness brings effectiveness to the apostolate. A spiritual writer taught that “kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning; and these three last have never converted anyone, unless they were kind also.”
Welfare of neighbour
Father Fernandez points out that benignity, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, modesty, continence, and chastity are fruits more directly related to our neighbour’s welfare.
We should desire good for others and strive to bring it about. In our dealing with others, gentleness, faithfulness, and temperance are very important.
The last three fruits: modesty, continence, and chastity, are related to the virtue of temperance. Father Fernandez points out that “modesty is attractive because it bespeaks simplicity and inner order.”
Spirit vs. flesh
It is very important for us to follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit rather than our own instincts.
According to The Navarre Bible, “When someone lets himself be led by his instincts he is said to be leading an “animal life”; whereas, if he acts as his reason advises, he is leading a rational, human, life. Similarly, when one allows the Holy Spirit to act, one’s life becomes life according to the Spirit, a supernatural life, a life which is no longer simply human but divine. This is what happens when a person is in the state of grace and is mindful of the treasure he bears within.”
“The Holy Spirit, living in your soul in grace—God with you — is giving a supernatural tone to all your thoughts, desires, and actions” (St. Josemaria Escriva).
聖神的果實是超性的工作。聖保祿宗徒指出它們是聖神臨在的明確效果。這些果實讓實踐者因喜悅而體驗到天主的臨在，也讓別人因見到善行而認出這臨在。現代天主教字典引述拉丁本聖經（迦5:22-23），詳列出聖神的效果：仁愛、喜樂、平安、忍耐、溫和、善行、堅毅、良善、忠信、謙虛、節制及貞潔。
這十二種果實不獨使我們感到快樂和滿足，亦幫助我們更取悅天主、受人鍾愛。阿道夫.鄧奎利神父謂「聖神的果實是修德達到某完滿程度，並使靈魂充滿神聖的喜樂。」
天主的光榮
方濟.法蘭特神父指出，仁愛、喜樂、平安，是標誌著天主的光榮。
關於仁愛，聖若望金口謂：「基督徒和愛基督的人最大的標記就是常關顧兄弟姊妹，熱衷於靈魂的得救。」
仁愛使我們與天主結合；而這結合的效果就是喜樂。仁愛和喜樂為靈魂帶來安寧的秩序—-平安。
傳教事工
法蘭特神父認為，忍耐和堅毅，在傳教使命上十分重要：「堅毅就如忍耐，恆長地棄絕自己，安心承行天主聖意，無悔無怨，直至完成被委予的使命。」
「堅忍的人，無視傳教的蠅效嫩果，只一心遵從天主的聖意，堅持更高的理念，竭盡心神，不半途而廢。」
良善亦有助傳教事工。有一位神修家寫道：「良善比熱誠、能言和有學識，更能感化罪人；就是說：熱誠、雄才偉略的人，若要感化罪人，仍需良善之心。」
他人的利益
法蘭特神父指出，溫和、善行、良善、忠信、謙虛、節制及貞潔，直接與為謀求他人裨益有關。我們為近人著想，不單在心中渴求他們會得到善，也會盡力以行動去成就。在與人交往時，溫良、忠信和節制是非常重要的。
謙虛、節制及貞潔，都與節制有關。法蘭特神父補充說：「端莊是具有吸引力的，因為它接引着倡導著純樸和內在的秩序。」
靈慾之爭
我們要遵從聖神的默啟，而不要順從本性的慾望。根據『納維肋聖經』內的解釋：「順從肉性本能生活的人，是過着動物的生活；遵從理性去生活的人，才過着合乎人性理智的生活。此外，那讓聖神工作的人，會因聖神而生活，並過着超性的生活。這生活不再只是純人性的，而是神聖的。有寵愛並意會到心內擁有珍寶的人，就能過這種神聖的生活。」
「藉恩寵而居住於你靈魂內的聖神—-天主臨在—正為你的一切思、願、行為，配上超性的調子！（聖施禮華神父）」