Fray Luis and Neo-Stoicism

“For, in truth, what is in the body powerful enough to put at peace the one who is ruled by such a reason and will? Perhaps the desire for the goods of this life will worry him or the fear of its evils break his rest? Will he change on account of an ambition for honor or love of riches, or come out of himself brought on by an enthusiasm for poisonous delights? How will poverty perturb him who only desires a short passage through this life? How will the hunger for high dignities and honors unquiet him who tramples upon all that is valued on the earth? How could adversity, contradiction, different changes, and blows of fortunes put a dent in him who has all his goods secure in himself?”
“Neither does good worry him, nor evil frighten him, nor does happiness puff him up, nor fear makes him shirk back, nor do promises lead him on or threats unsettle him, nor is he one that either prosperous or adverse circumstances can change. If he loses his property, he is glad as free from a heavy weight. If he lacks friends, he has God in his soul, Whom he embraces continually. If hatred or envy set other people’s heart against him, since he knows they cannot take away his good, he fears them not. He is staid amidst change and secure in frightening times. When everything around him goes to ruin he remains firmer still and as that great eloquent man said, ‘he shines in the darkness and is not moved from his place’” (Cicero, Pro Publio Sestio Oratio, LX).

(From On the Names of Christ by Fray Luis de León, Book II: Prince of Peace)

The Beloved

The innumerable army of true lovers that Christ has and will forever have is an admirable thing. A faithful friend is a rare and difficult matter. As the Wise Man says: ‘A faithful friend is a strong defense; he who finds one will have found a treasure’ (Ecclus. 6:14). But Christ found and finds an infinite number of friends that love Him with so much faith that they are called the faithful among all the people as a proper name only appropriate to them. For in all the ages of the world and in all its years, and we can say in all its hours, there have lived and been born souls that endearingly love Him. And it is more do-able and possible that the sun lack light than there lack men in the world that love and adore Him. For this love is what sustains the world, which holds it in its hand, so as not to perish. For the world is nothing save for he who can be found in it that burns for Christ.

(from On the Names of Christ by Fray Luis de León, Book III: Beloved)

Christ as Fruit- The Cosmic Christo-Centrism of Fray Luis de León

Well, this is Christ being a fruit. And Scripture gives Him this name to make us understand that Christ is the end of all things and He for Whose happy birth all creatures were created and directed. For just as the tree root was not made for itself, nor the trunk that is born and sustains itself on top but one and the other together with the branches, flowers and leaves and all the rest that the tree produces is ordered and directed toward the fruit that comes out of it which is its end and finishing-off; thus, in the same way, these extended heavens which we see and the stars that shine in them and amongst them, this fount of clarity and light that illuminates everything, the round and beautiful earth painted with flowers, the waters teaming with fish, animals, and men, and this whole universe so great and beautiful, God made it for this end: to make His Son a man and produce this unique and divine fruit that is Christ, which we can truly call the common birth of all things.

(From On the Names of Christ by Fray Luis de León, Book I, Chapter 1: Blossom)