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It is not a question here of the gift of fear, which has already been
discussed,[1360] but of fear inasmuch as it is a movement of the
sensitive appetite.
Reply. The answer is that there was sensible fear in Christ, for
the Evangelist says: "Jesus began to fear and to be
heavy."[1361] Truly, Jesus was able to perceive His death on
the cross as an evil that cannot easily be avoided, which is the object
of fear. There was natural fear in Christ, or the act of the soul
naturally shrinking from evil and from contracting it. From another
source Christ knew this evil as certainly to come, according to
God's decree, and in the higher part of His soul He rejoiced at the
thought of having accepted this pain for our salvation.
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