Posted by Morning Meditation
CHARITY PRACTISED IN WORKS.
My little children, says St. John, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in
truth-(l John iii. 18). Some say they sincerely love their neighbours, but they will not submit to
inconvenience for the sake of any of them. To fulfil the precept of charity it is not enough to
love our neighbour in words ; we must love him in deed and in truth.
I.
Some say they sincerely love all their neighbours, but they will not put themselves to
inconvenience for the sake of any of them. My little children, says St. John, let us not love in
word, nor in tongue, but in deed and truth. The Scripture tells us that alms deliver men from
death, cleanse them from sin, and obtain for them the Divine mercy and eternal life. Alms
delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to ‘find mercy and
life everlasting-(Tob, xii. 9), God will relieve you in the same manner in which yo1 give relief to your neighbour. With what measure yo· mete it shall be measured to you again-(Matth. vii. 2) Hence St. John Chrysostom says that the exercise o charity to others is the means of acquiring great gai with God. ” Alms is, of all acts, the most lucrative.’ And St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi used to say that sh felt more happy
in relieving her neighbour than when sh was wrapt in contemplation. “Because,” she wouk add, “
when I am in contemplation God assists me; bu in giving relief to a neighbour I assist God “; for,
every act of charity we exercise towards our neighbour, Goe accepts as done to Himself. But, on
the other hand, a St. John says, can he who does not assist a brother iI want be said to love God?
Ile that hath the substanc of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shal shut up his
bowels from him,, how doth the charity o God abide in him’?-(1 John iii. 17). By alms is under
stood not only the distribution of money and other goods but every succour given to a neighbour in
order to reliev his wants. It is related of St. Teresa that she was accus tomed to perform every
day some act of charity toward her sisters in Religion, and whenever she was unable t do so during
the day she would be careful at night t show light to the sisters who might be passing in the dar
before her cell. The Saints were full of charity and com passion to all who required their
assistance. The jus are merciful and show rnercy-(Prov. xiii. 13).
II.
The exercise of special charity towards the sick is als very pleasing to God. Serving them has far
greater merit than serving those who are in health. The sic stand in greater need of assistance
than those who are well, They are afflicted by pain, melancholy, and the fear of death, and are
sometimes even abandoned by al Oh, how pleasing it is to God to labour to console them in their
afflictions ! St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi assiste and served the sick, and desired to live in some
hospital in order to be always employed in an office so pleasing to God. :’ If you wish to know,”
Father Anthony Torre used to say, “whether the Spirit of God reigns in a community, ask how the sick are treated.” All who tend to perfection practise charity towards the sick. Be careful, then, to relieve the sick by
alms, or by little presents, and to serve them as well as you can, at least by endeavouring to
console them by your words, by exhortations to practise resignation to God’s will, and to offer
Him all their sufferings. Do not look for thanks ; but bear with their complaints, impatience, and
rudeness. The Lord Himself will reward your charity. It is related in the Chronicles of the
Teresians that Sr. Isabella of the Angels was seen ascending to Heaven immediately after death and
carried by Angels amid great splendour. She said to a Religious to whom she appeared afterwards
that God had bestowed that glory on her for her charity towards the sick.