Psalm 22
Douay-Rheims
22 A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
2 He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
3 He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake.
4 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.
5 Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
6 And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
Do not think that the fruits of the Holy Spirit will come into being without all the blocks of the soul, mind, and body being removed.
Here is a reminder of these fruits: charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity (another name for kindness), goodness, long suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, and chastity.
Why is it that the fruits of the Holy Spirit do not come into fullness without the Dark Night of the Senses/
The answer is simple. We all have huge blocks in our souls to the growth of these fruits.
Blocks can be seen as one-to-one correspondences with the fruits.
Selfishness block love or charity.
Anxiety and internal chaos blocks peace.
Impatience, of course, blocks patience, as does anger.
Kindness is also blocked by impatience, anger, greed, and judgement.
Goodness is blocked by concupiscence and tendencies towards sin. Greed also blocks goodness.
Long suffering is blocked by impatience, anger and pride.
Mildness is blocked by pride.
Faith is blocked by greed, selfishness, and anxiety.
Modesty is blocked by pride and selfishness, lust and greed.
Continency is blocked by lust.
Chastity is also blocked by lust and selfishness.
And, so on. One could look at one's own main faults and do a one-to-one check list.
One's particular faults block all these fruits.
To be continued.....
