Street of First Doctrine
41. What Is Charity?
Street of First Doctrine: first Catholic doctrine for souls learning how to believe, pray, and live.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind." - Matthew 22:37
is the supernatural by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. A beginner must learn this because is not mere kindness, sentiment, or tolerance. It is the love of God poured into the soul by .
The catechism answer is simple: is the by which we love God above all things and love our neighbor for God's sake.
is the life of holiness. Without , even outwardly good works are empty before God.
The question is not first, "Do I feel affectionate?" It is, "Do I love God above all?"
commands the whole soul. It orders worship, , sacrifice, prayer, correction, mercy, forgiveness, and hatred of sin. It does not place God beside other goods as one preference among many.
The soul in belongs to God.
To love God is to prefer Him above comfort, reputation, pleasure, money, family approval, public opinion, and self-will.
This love is shown by . Our Lord says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." A person who claims love while refusing God's law is deceiving himself.
is tender, but it is also firm.
The neighbor is loved for God's sake. This means willing his true good, especially his salvation.
feeds the hungry, forgives injuries, speaks truth, prays for sinners, corrects when needed, protects the weak, and refuses to flatter sin.
To love a soul is not to bless what destroys it.
extends even to enemies. The Christian must not desire their damnation, nourish revenge, or refuse to pray for their conversion.
This does not mean trusting the dangerous, excusing evil, or surrendering truth. It means willing that the enemy repent, be saved, and come under the mercy and of God.
The Cross teaches this love.
can never be separated from truth. False hides doctrine, excuses sin, and calls correction unkind.
True speaks with , but it does not lie. It hates because poisons souls. It hates sin because sin destroys . It loves the sinner enough to desire conversion.
Mercy without truth is not .
The soul must learn to love God above all things.
The soul must learn that obeys.
The soul must learn to will the salvation of the neighbor.
The soul must learn to forgive enemies without excusing evil.
The soul must learn that truth belongs to love.
is the by which we love God above all things and love our neighbor for God's sake.
A beginner should ask: Do I put God first? Do I His commandments? Do I pray for others? Do I excuse sin under the name of kindness? Do I love souls enough to desire their conversion?
is the fire of the City of God. It burns against sin, gives itself for souls, and rests in God as the highest good.