Bellarmine on Psalm 1 : Verses 3 & 4

Verses 3 & 4

And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

Et erit tamquam lignum quod plantatum est secus decursus aquarum, quod fructum suum dabit in tempore suo : et folium ejus non defluet; et omnia quæcumque faciet prosperabuntur.

The Prophet has declared who is to be called truly just : now he declares that such a just person is blessed, with hope in this world or in what is to come. This is summed up in a similitude of a tree which, planted on the bank of a river, has everything needed to make a tree perfectly happy. For some trees produce only leaves, and do not retain them for long; others produce leaves and retain them for a long time but their fruit either comes too early or too late; finally, others produce fruit in their time and are always clothed in leaves, but do not bring all their fruit to maturity : therefore only hose trees are perfect in every way that produce fruit if they always retain their leaves and produce their fruit matured at all times. Such trees are the pines, the palms, the olive trees, to which the Scriptures are in various places wont to compare just men. He therefore says here that just men are to similar to these most fortunate of trees. For the just,“rooted and founded in charity,”as the Apostle says,[1] are through friendship close to the living fount, whence they 

always may draw a flow of grace; and they bring forth good works at an opportune time, and all things co-operate with them to good, and they always blossom in glory and honour. For although they may at times be despised by the carnal, yet by the angels, and what is more, by God Himself, they are honoured. This indeed is in this world; but they bring forth fruit in their time, because they produce fruits to be received in a fitting time, that is, after death; the wicked look for this before their time, they seek happiness in this life, and thus they lose it in this time and in eternity. And they always retain their leaves because they accept, according to the words of the Apostle Peter: “a never fading crown of glory;”[2] and “The just shall be in everlasting remembrance.”[3] Finally, “whatsoever he shall do shall prosper,” because all his works, even a cup of cold water given in the name of disciple, will receive a full and perfect reward.

[1] Ephesians iii 17.

[2]  And when the prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never fading crown of glory. Et cum apparuerit princeps pastorum, percipietis immarcescibilem gloriae coronam. [I Pet. v 4]

[3] The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord: In memoria aeterna erit justus; ab auditione mala non timebit. Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino. [Psalm CXI 7]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.