Teaching And Joy

Ecce quam bonum et quam jucundum habitare fratres in unum... Per omnem doctrinae ordinem gradibus scanditur; nam per gradus ad superiora provehimur. In eo enim quod ita coepit Propheta, Ecce quam bonum et quam jucundum, docemur quid bonum atque jucundum sit: ut per cognitionem eorum, in bonis jucundisque maneamus. Servata autem scienter ea ratio a Propheta est, ut bonum jucundumque sociaret: quia non omne quod bonum est, jucundum est, neque omne quod jucundum est, bonum est. Jucundus est luxus, sed bonus non est; est enim in ipsa illa corporalis lasciviae amoenitate detrimentum et salutis et famae. Bona est tolerantia injuriae, maxime cum ad irreligiositatem compellimur poenis famis, sitis, frigoris, vigiliarum, contumeliarum, dolorum; sed jucunda non est: illic enim injuriosum perfectae virtutis officium est. Et ita per haec nonnumquam et bonum jucunditate, et jucunditas solet eo carere quod bonum est. Videamus quid sit illud quod bonum et jucundum esse Propheta demonstrat, scilicet habitare fratres in unum. Non humanas cohabitationes, nec terrenarum domorum communionem propheta David dicit. Nam fratres sub haec ipsa tectorum consortia dissidentes videmus, et inimicos saepe ejusdem domicilii habitatio continet: et nonnumquam incrementum odiis ipsa illa cohabitandi indignatio subministrat. Sed novit esse Apostolus communem et religiosam domum, dicens: Ut scias quemadmodum te oporteat in domo Dei diversari, quae est Ecclesia Dei vivi, columna et firmamentum veritatis. Itaque bonum et jucundum est in unum habitare fratres. Cum in unum habitant, conventu Ecclesiae congregantur: cum fratres nuncupantur, unicae voluntatis charitate concordes sunt. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum CXXXII Source: Migne PL 9.745c-746a

Behold how good and joyful it is when brothers dwell in unity... 1 Through every course of teaching we ascend by steps, for by steps we are carried to what is higher. Here then, with what the prophet begins: 'Behold how good and how joyful,' we learn what may be good and joyful, that by the knowledge of them we might abide in goodness and joyfulness. But the reason for it is sensibly restricted by the prophet, the association of goodness and joyfulness, because not every good is joyful and not everything which causes joy is good. There is joy in luxury but it is not good, for in that contentment in corporeal pleasure there is grave harm to salvation and glory. It is good to endure injury and especially when we would be driven to wickedness by punishments of hunger and thirst and cold and sleeplessness and scorn and grief, but there is no joy in it, yet there in wrong done is the office of perfect virtue. Therefore, because of this, sometimes the good is joyful, and joy may very well be found to lack what is good. Let us see what the prophet reveals to be both good and joyful, that is, 'when brothers dwell in unity.' The prophet David does not speak of human cohabitation, nor of an association of worldly dwellings. For we see beneath those roofs that disputes arise among brothers who associate, and often and one and the same house contains enemies, and sometimes by such cohabitation anger increases hatred. But the Apostle knew what was a shared and pious house, saying, 'That you know how you should conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the assembly of the Church of the living God, a column and firmament of truth.' 2 Thus it is both good and joyful when brothers dwell in unity. And they dwell as one when they gather into the assembly of the Church, and when they are called brothers they are in harmony in the charity of one will. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 132 1 Ps 132.1 2 1 Tim 3.15