Posted by Morning Meditation
CHARITY TOW ARDS THE NEIGHBOUR’S SOUL.
He who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save his soul from death
and shall cover a multitude of sins-(James v. 20). Would it not be cruelty in him who would see a
blind man walking over a precipice and not admonish him of his danger and thus rescue him from
temporal death ? But it would be still greater cruelty to neglect, when able, to deliver a neigh
bour from eternal death.
I.
The most perfect charity consists in zeal for your neighbour’s spiritual good. To relieve the
spiritual necessities of a fellow-man, or to contribute to his spiritual welfare, as far excels
the exercise of charity towards his body as the dignity of the soul transcends the lowly condition
of the flesh. Charity towards the soul is·practised, in the first place, by correcting our neighbour’s faults. St. James declares that he who causes a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins -(James v. 20). But on the other hand, St. Augustine says that he who sees a neighbour destroying his soul, by giving way to anger against a neighbour, or by insulting him, and neglects to correct him, sins more grievously by his silence than the other does by his insults and contumely. “You,” says the Saint, “see him perish, and care not; your silence is more criminal than his reproachful language.” Do not excuse yourself by saying that you know not how to correct him.
St. John Chrysostom tells you that for correcting the faults of others charity is more necessary
than wisdom. Make the correction at a seasonable time, with charity and sweetness, and it will be
profitable. If you are a Superior, you are bound by your office to correct those under you ; if
not, you are bound in charity to administer correction as often as you expect fruit from it. Would
it not be cruelty in him who should see a blind man walking over a precipice not t.o admonish him of his danger, and thus rescue him from temporal death? But it would be still greater cruelty in vou to
neQ’lect, when able, to deliver a neighbour from eternal death. If you prudently judge that your
advice would be unprofitable, be careful at least to make known the fault to some other person who
will be able to apply a remedy. Do not say, This is not my business ; I will not take any trouble
about it. This was the language of Cain. Am I, said he, my brother’s keeper-(Gen. iv. 9). It is
the duty of every one, when able, to save his. neighbour. from ruin. And, says Ecclesiasticus, he
gave to every one of them ·commandment concerning his neighbour-::-:(Ecclus. xvii.
12).
II.
St. Philip Neri says that, when necessary, God wishes that we omit mental prayer in order to assist
a neigh bour, particularly in his spiritual necessities. St. Ger trude desired one day to
entertain herself in prayer, but a work of charity was to be performed, and therefore the Lord said
to her : •• Tell me, Gertrude, do you intend that I should serve you, or that you should serve Me?”
“If,” says St. Gregory, “you go to God, take care not to go alone to Him.” And Saint Augustine
says: “If you love God, draw all to the love of God.” If you love God you should take care not to
be alone in loving Him, but should labour to bring to His love all your relatives, and all those
with whom you have intercourse.
To appear devout, mortified, devoted to mental prayer and to frequent Communion, in order to
give good example to others, in order to induce others to do like wise, is not an act of vanity,
but an act of charity, very pleasing to God. So let your light shine before men that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven-(Matt. v. 16).
Endeavour, then, to assist all according to the best of your ability, by words, works, and
particularly by prayers. Many Doctors, along with St. Basil, teach, that by the words Amen I say
to you, if you ask the F’ather anything in my name, he will give it you-(John xvi. 23), Jesus
Christ promises to hear our prayers, not only for ourselves, but also for others, provided they do
not place a positive obstacle in the way. Hence, in the common prayer, in your Thanksgiving after
Communion, and your Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, you should never omit to recommend to God all
poor sinners, infidels, and heretics, and all that live without God.
How pleasing to Jesus Christ are the prayers of His spouses for sinners ! He once said to the
Venerable Sister Seraphina de Capri: “Assist Me, 0 My daughter, to save souls by your prayers.” To
Mary Magdalen de Pazzi he said : ” See, Magdalen, how Christians are in the hands of the devil ;
unless my elect by their prayers deliver them, they will be devoured.” Hence the Saint used to say
to her Religious : ” My sisters, God has not separated us from the world only for our own good, but
also for the benefit of sinners.” And on another occasion she said : ” My sisters, we have
to render to God an account for so many lost souls : had we recom mended them to God with fervour,
perha-ps they would not be damned.” Hence we read in her life that she did not allow an hour of
the day to pass without praying for sinners. Oh, how many souls are sometimes converted, not so much by the sermons of priests as by the prayers of Religious ! It was once revealed to a preacher that the fruit which he produced was not the effect of his sermons, but of the prayers of a lay-brother who assisted him at the pulpit. Be careful, also, to pray for priests, that they may labour with true zeal for the salvation of souls.