Charity Expounded.
Q. WHAT is Charity?
A. It is the gift of God, or a supernatural quality infused by God into the soul of man, by which we love God above all things, and our neighbours as ourselves, for God's sake.
A. It is the gift of God, or a supernatural quality infused by God into the soul of man, by which we love God above all things, and our neighbours as ourselves, for God's sake.
Q. Why is it called supernatural?
A. Because it is not in the power of nature to obtain it, but by the special grace and gift of God.
A. Because it is not in the power of nature to obtain it, but by the special grace and gift of God.
Q. Is charity imputed as protestants would have it, or is it a quality truly inherent in the soul.
A. It is truly inherent in the soul, as wisdom is inherent in a soul that is wise, and love in a soul that loves.
A. It is truly inherent in the soul, as wisdom is inherent in a soul that is wise, and love in a soul that loves.
Q. How prove you that?
A. First out of Rom. v. 5. "The charity of God which is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, which is given us."
Secondly, out of Dan. vi, 22, "Before him (i.e. God) justice have been found in me."
Thirdly, out of Ephes. iii. 17, 18, where St. Paul prays for his brethren, "That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts: that, being rooted and founded in charity, you may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth."
A. First out of Rom. v. 5. "The charity of God which is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, which is given us."
Secondly, out of Dan. vi, 22, "Before him (i.e. God) justice have been found in me."
Thirdly, out of Ephes. iii. 17, 18, where St. Paul prays for his brethren, "That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts: that, being rooted and founded in charity, you may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth."
Q. What is it to love God above all things?
A. To be willing to lose all things, rather than the grace or love of God by mortal sin.
A. To be willing to lose all things, rather than the grace or love of God by mortal sin.
Q. Who has this love?
A. They who keep the commandments of God, according to that, "This is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not heavy." 1 John v. 3.
A. They who keep the commandments of God, according to that, "This is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not heavy." 1 John v. 3.
Q. Hath not he charity then, that breaks any of the commandments?
A. He hath not; for "he that saith, he knoweth God, and doth not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John ii. 4.
A. He hath not; for "he that saith, he knoweth God, and doth not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John ii. 4.
Q. What is it to love our neighbours as ourselves?
A. To wish him as much good as we wish ourselves, and to do him no wrong.
A. To wish him as much good as we wish ourselves, and to do him no wrong.
Q. Who is our neighbour?
A. All men, women, and children, even those who injure us, or differ from us in religion, but especially Catholics.
A. All men, women, and children, even those who injure us, or differ from us in religion, but especially Catholics.
Q. Why so?
A. Because they are the images of God, and redeemed with the blood of Christ.
A. Because they are the images of God, and redeemed with the blood of Christ.
Q. Why especially Catholics?
A. Because they are all members of the mystical body of Christ, which is the church.
A. Because they are all members of the mystical body of Christ, which is the church.
Q. Whence ariseth the obligations of loving our neighbour?
A. Because God hath commanded it: and 'if one shall say I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar.' 1 John, iv. 20.
A. Because God hath commanded it: and 'if one shall say I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar.' 1 John, iv. 20.
Q. Are we not also bound to love our enemies?
A. We are, according to that, "It was said of old, Thou shalt not kill: but I say unto you, Love your enemies." Matt. v. 43, 44.
A. We are, according to that, "It was said of old, Thou shalt not kill: but I say unto you, Love your enemies." Matt. v. 43, 44.
Q. What kind of love are we bound to show to our enemies?
A. We are bound to use a civil behaviour towards them, to pray for them in general, and to be disposed to do any charitable office for them when their necessity require it.
A. We are bound to use a civil behaviour towards them, to pray for them in general, and to be disposed to do any charitable office for them when their necessity require it.
Q. What is the highest act of charity?
A. To give our life for God's honour, and the salvation of our neighbour.
A. To give our life for God's honour, and the salvation of our neighbour.
Q. Why is charity the greatest and most excellent of virtues?
A. Because it is the life of all the rest. "Faith without charity is dead." James ii. 26.
A. Because it is the life of all the rest. "Faith without charity is dead." James ii. 26.
Q. What state of life do we conceive to be of greatest perfection.
A. That which of its own nature and proper institution obligeth to the highest and greatest charity, for charity is perfection, and such is the state not only of bishops, but also, as many probably think, of pastors who have the charge of souls.
A. That which of its own nature and proper institution obligeth to the highest and greatest charity, for charity is perfection, and such is the state not only of bishops, but also, as many probably think, of pastors who have the charge of souls.
Q. How prove you that?
A. Out of 1 John xv. 13; "Greater charity than this no man hath, that a man yield his life for his friends," which is the proper obligation of every parish priest, according to that, "The good pastor giveth his life for his sheep." John x. 12.
A. Out of 1 John xv. 13; "Greater charity than this no man hath, that a man yield his life for his friends," which is the proper obligation of every parish priest, according to that, "The good pastor giveth his life for his sheep." John x. 12.
Q. How prove you the necessity of charity?
A. Out of John iv. 16. "He that remains in charity, remains in God, and God in him," and chap. iii. ver 14, "He that loves not, remains in death."
A. Out of John iv. 16. "He that remains in charity, remains in God, and God in him," and chap. iii. ver 14, "He that loves not, remains in death."
Q. What are the effects of charity?
A. It destroys sin. "Charity covers a multitude of sins," James v. 20, and gives spiritual life to the soul. "In this we know that we are translated from death to life, because we love the brethren." 1 John iii. 14.
A. It destroys sin. "Charity covers a multitude of sins," James v. 20, and gives spiritual life to the soul. "In this we know that we are translated from death to life, because we love the brethren." 1 John iii. 14.
Next - The Douai Catechism, 1649 - CHAPTER VIII. Of the Commandments in general.
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