Salesian Literature

Chapter 3  :  Charity gives some virtues greater prominence than others

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Some virtues have a natural link with or likeness to charity.  This means that they are much more open to charity’s influence, and therefore to a share in its importance, its value.  Such are faith and hope, which – with charity – have God for their immediate object; also religion, penance and devotion, whose purpose is to give God glory.

 

All these virtues, of their nature, are so closely related to God, so susceptible of charity’s impulses that, for them to share in its holiness, they only need to be near it – I mean, in a heart that loves God.

 

Nearly all flowers open out or grow more beautiful in the sunlight.  Some yellow flowers, however (especially the one which the Greeks called heliotropium, and we call the sunflower), not only enjoy the sunshine, but turn to follow the sun’s rays, keeping their faces towards it from its rising to its setting.  In the same way, virtues receive a new brilliance, a wondrous worth, from the presence of charity.

 

However, faith, hope, the fear of God, piety, penance and those other virtues which are specially concerned with God and his glory, not only receive the impression of charity, and so gain greater value; they also seek in charity a constant companion, to follow and serve it at all times.

 

The man who exclaims: I may have utter faith, so that I can move mountains; yet if I lack charity, I count for nothing (1 Cor. 13:2), really shows that with charity his faith would make him count for something great.  Charity, therefore, is a virtue beyond compare; it not only adorns the soul in which it dwells, but blesses and sanctifies too all the other virtues it finds there.  Its mere presence bestows on them a share in its heavenly fragrance, gives them great value in God’s sight.  However, it does this to a greater perfection in the case of faith, hope and other virtues which of their nature lead to piety.

 

That is why, of all virtuous actions, we ought carefully to practise those of religion, of reverence for the things of God, also those of faith, hope and holy fear of God. We should often speak of heavenly things, think of and long of eternity, frequent churches and religious services, read spiritual books, perform the ceremonies of the Christian religion.  Charity is best fostered through such practices, where it sheds its graces and characteristics in greater profusion than on the actions of merely human virtues.

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