WHEN WE OPEN OURSELVES TO THE SPIRIT, THE DIVINE SUN BEGINS TO DO ITS HEAVENLY WORK

THE ETERNAL GOD CAUSES THE SOUL TO BLOSSOM FORTH AND TO PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT OF VIRTUE; AND THE JOY IN THAT SOUL NO TONGUE CAN TELL.

And yet the soul remains cold and hard, for although the sun grows warmer, it is yet far from summer’s clear and genial light. But soon all is changed.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The divine sun begins to do its heavenly work in the well-prepared garden of the soul. When, therefore, the genial sun of God’s grace begins to shine brightly upon this well-cultivated garden, all the soul’s inner and outer faculties being fully prepared, all its higher and lower tendencies directed towards heaven, then indeed the sweet flowers of May begin to bloom, and all the welcome gifts of summertime.

The eternal God causes the soul to blossom forth and to produce good fruit of virtue; and the joy in that soul no tongue can tell. For now the Holy Spirit is there, and his brightness shines directly upon the soul, yea, into its inmost depths. Well may he now be called the true Comforter, since his influence is so delicious.

O HOW GREAT A JOY!

O how great a joy! O how rich a feast, the sweet odours of whose nourishing food excite the soul’s deepest longing! These are granted in every plenty of enjoyment to the rightly prepared soul by the gentle Spirit of God. One drop of this divine comfort is worth more than all the joys of created things put together; and it overpowers and quenches all longing for them whatsoever.

DWELLING FOREVER IN THE JOY OF THE SPIRIT COMFORTER

When a man feels this action of the divine comforter so wonderfully great and so unexpected, he would gladly sink down into its depths and rest and slumber in it for ever. He feels like Saint Peter at the Lord’s Transfiguration; it is good for him to be there, and he would set up three tabernacles of joy out of one drop of the happiness now granted him, and there dwell for ever.
– Fr Johann Tauler, 14th century