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70. Fruits of the Holy Ghost

1. What proceeds from man's reason is a fruit ofreason. What proceeds from man by the working in him of a higherpower is the fruit of that higher power. Hence, the actionof a man which proceedsfrom him as the product of what isimplanted in him, like a seed, by the Holy Ghost, is the fruit ofthe Holy Ghost.

2. The beatitudes are perfect works; the fruits of theHoly Ghost are virtuous and delightful works. The beatitudes arefruits; but not all fruits are beatitudes.

3. The fruits of the Holy Ghost are enumerated by St. Paul(Gal. 5:22-23): charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness,long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity.

4. In general, the sensitive appetites tend to draw man togoods less than himself; the fruits tend to lift man to what isgreater than himself, not only as lying beyond the reach of sense,but beyond the reach of natural reason. Hence there is contrast andopposition between the works of the flesh and the fruits.

"Spiritual persons ought to be equally ready to experience sweetness and consolation in the things of God, or to suffer and keep their ground in drynesses of spirit and devotion, and for as long as God pleases, without their making any complaint about it."
St Philip Neri

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"Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God."
Thomas á Kempis

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"The greatest glory we can give to God is to do his will in everything."
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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