True joy multiplies when shared with others

On Wednesday morning, 27 November, Pope Francis continued his series of catecheses on the Holy Spirit in the Church, turning his attention to the fruits of the Holy Spirit. These fruits, he explained, are “the result of a cooperation between grace and our freedom”. The following is a translation of the Holy Father’s words, which he delivered in Italian in Saint Peter’s Square.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Good morning!

After speaking about sanctifying grace and then about charisms, today I would like to take a look at a third aspect linked to the action of the Holy Spirit: “the fruits of the Spirit”. What is the fruit of the Spirit? Saint Paul provides a list in the Letter to the Galatians. He writes: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (5:22). Nine fruits of the Spirit. But what is this “fruit of the Spirit”?

Unlike charisms, which the Spirit gives to whom he wants and when he wants for the good of the Church, the fruits of the Spirit, I repeat — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control — are the result of a cooperation between grace and our freedom. These fruits always express the creativity of the person, in which “faith works through love” (cf. Gal 5:6), sometimes in a surprising and joyful way. Not everyone in the Church can be an apostle, a prophet, or an evangelist, not everyone. However, all of us, without distinction, can and should be charitable, patient, humble, peace makers, and so on. But all of us, yes, must be charitable, must be patient, must be humble, workers for peace, not war.

Among the fruits of the Spirit listed by the Apostle, I like to highlight one of them, recalling the initial words of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium: “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew” (no. 1). There will be sad moments at times, but there is always peace. With Jesus there is joy and peace.

Joy, fruit of the Spirit, has in common with any other human joy a certain feeling of fullness and fulfilment, which makes one wish it would last forever. We know from experience, however, that this is not the case, because everything here passes quickly. Everything passes quickly. Let us think together: youth passes quickly; health, strength, well-being, friendships, loves... They last a hundred years ... but not much longer. They soon pass. Besides, even if these things were not to pass quickly, they would no longer be enough after a while, or would even become boring, because, as Saint Augustine said to God: “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You” (Confessions,   Confessions, i , 1). There is the restlessness of the heart to seek beauty, peace, love, joy.

The joy of the Gospel, evangelical joy, unlike any other joy, can be renewed every day and become contagious. “Thanks solely to this encounter — or renewed encounter — with God’s love, which blossoms into an enriching friendship, we are liberated from our narrowness and self-absorption... Here we find the source and inspiration of all our efforts at evangelization. For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others?” (Evangelii Gaudium, 8). It is the dual nature of joy as the fruit of the Spirit: not only is it not subject to the inevitable wear of time, but it multiplies when it is shared with others! A true joy is shared with others; it even spreads.

Five centuries ago, a saint called Philip Neri lived here in Rome. He has gone down in history as the saint of joy. He used to say to the poor and abandoned children of his Oratory: “My children, be cheerful; I do not want qualms or melancholy; it is enough for me that you do not sin”. And again: “Be good, if you can!”. Less well known, however, is the source from which his joy came. Saint Philip Neri had such love for God that at times it seemed his heart might burst in his chest. His joy was, in the fullest sense, a fruit of the Spirit. The Saint participated in the Jubilee of 1575, which he enriched with the practice, maintained thereafter, of a visit to the Seven Churches. He was, in his time, a true evangelizer through joy. And he shared one of Jesus’ traits: he always forgave, and he forgave everything. Perhaps some of us might think: “But I have committed this sin, and this will not be forgiven…”. Listen to this carefully. God forgives everything, God always forgives. And this is joy: being forgiven by God. And I always say to priests and confessors: “Forgive everything, do not ask too many questions; but forgive everything, everything, and always”.

The word “Gospel” means glad tidings. Therefore, it cannot be communicated with a long face and sombre countenance, but with the joy of those who have found the hidden treasure and the precious pearl. Remember Saint Paul’s exhortation to the believers of the Church of Philippi, which he now addresses to us all, and which we heard at the beginning: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand” (Phil 4:4-5).

Dear brothers and sisters, be glad, with the joy of Jesus in our heart. Thank you.

Special Greetings

I extend a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those coming from Australia, Israel, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea and the United States of America. I greet in particular the members of the African Delegation for Justice and Peace Pilgrimage and I assure them of my prayers for their important mission. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ! God bless you!

Lastly, as usual, my thoughts turn to young people, to the sick, to the elderly and to newlyweds. Advent in preparation for the Nativity of Christ will begin next Sunday. I encourage all of you to live this important time with vigilant prayer and ardent hope.

Starting next week with Advent, the summary of the Catechesis of the Audience will also be available in Chinese.

And let us not forget the martyred Ukrainian people. They suffer a great deal. And you children, young people, think of the children and young Ukrainians who suffer at this time, without heating, in a very hard, very severe winter. Pray for the Ukrainian children and young people. Will you do it? Will you pray? All of you. Don’t forget. And let us also pray for peace in the Holy Land: Nazareth, Palestine, Israel… May there be peace, may there be peace. The people are suffering a lot. Let us pray for peace, all together.