Salesian Literature

Chapter 3:  How we grow in charity

​

Let me use a parable, Theotimus.  It was the Master’s favourite way of teaching – the Master I am teaching you to love…

 

A soul in a state of grace is a bride of Christ.  Sanctifying grace means charity; and to be Christ’s bride means that the king has brought the soul to his own bower, haunted by the fragrance of those perfumes to which the Song of Songs refers (Cant. 1:3).  So privileged a soul, if it commits sin, falls into a spiritual coma.  An unexpected seizure, truly! – who would ever dream of a creature deciding to leave its Creator, and all that he has to give, for the trifling delight sin has to offer?  Even heaven itself is amazed (cf. Jer. 2:12)[1].  If God were a prey to passions, he would be rendered insensible by this disaster; as, in his human nature, he died on the cross to ransom us – but now his love need show itself by death no longer.

 

At the sight of a soul brought low by sin, he speeds to its aid.  Unsurpassed in pity, he opens the human heart by the pricks of remorseful conscience – the result of his giving light to the mind, wholesome impulses to the will.  In this way, as though by restoratives, he revives the soul, recalls it to its good intentions.

 

It is entirely God’s doing, all this, Theotimus – no effort of ours finds place; his goodness prompts us with the charms of his love.  But let the soul, once aroused, assent to the impulses of grace, respond to the promptings of inspiration, accept the helpful remedies God has in store – then he will give it strength, lead it by impulses of faith, hope and sorrow to recover its spiritual health; and that is charity.  But as he takes it through the virtues leading to love, God not only guides the soul; he supports it so gently that it can make its way by its own efforts.  It would be hard to tell whether the soul were advancing by itself, or whether it were being carried.  God’s support does not detract from its own efforts; but its own efforts would be unavailing without his support.  To echo St. Paul’s words, the soul could claim: I am working, or rather, it is not I, but the grace of God working with me (1 Cor. 15:10).

 

Once the soul is completely restored to health by the wonderful ointment of charity which the Holy Spirit spreads over the heart, it can make its own way and keep its balance – on the strength, however, of its new-found health and the salve of divine love.  That is why, despite its own progress, it owes the glory of it to God who gives the vigour, the vitality of health.  Whether the Holy Spirit strengthens us with the impulses of his grace, or upholds us by the charity he pours out in our hearts; whether he comes to our aid by lifting us, carrying us, or strengthens our souls by pouring into them the energy and vitality of love – he is ever the source and strength of our life, our progress, of all our activity (cf. Acts. 17:28).

 

It is not uncommon to find that robust and healthy men need prompting – taking by the hand, so to speak – if they are to put their strength and ability to good use.  God, in the same way, when he has given us charity (and through it the strength and ability to make headway along the path of perfection), cannot find it in his heart to let us tread that way alone.  His love drives him to set out with us, urges him to spur us on, incites him to impel us to make good use of the charity he has given us.  His inspirations often recall to our minds those warnings of St. Paul: We entreat you not to offer God’s grace an ineffectual welcome (2 Cor. 6:1); let us practice generosity to all, while the opportunity is ours (Gal. 6:10); run, then, for victory (1 Cor. 9:14).  Let us often imagine that God is whispering in our ears what he said to the good patriarch Abraham: Live as in my sight, and be perfect (Gen. 17:1).

 

In important and unusual undertakings God’s special help is particularly needed, even though the soul be endowed with charity.  Charity, however slight, gives each of us all the inclination – and, I believe, the strength – we need to do those things which are essential to win our Salvation.  But to set our heats on extraordinary things, to carry them through, we need the impulse and support of our tremendous lover’s grace.

 

St. Anthony and St. Simeon Stylites, for instance, possessed God’s grace, God’s charity, when they set their hearts on such high callings; so did the saintly Mother Teresa, when she made her special vow of obedience; St. Francis and St. Louis too, when they set sail for the glory of God; the saintly Francis Xavier, when he dedicated his life the conversion of India; St. Charles, when he devoted himself to the service of the plague-stricken; St. Paulinus, when he sold himself to ransom a poor widow’s child.  For all that, they would never have played their parts so dauntlessly, or with such greatness of soul, had not God added to their charity special inspirations, encouragements, enlightenment and fortitude.  These were the impulses that stimulated them to perform such extraordinary feats of spiritual courage.

 

Take the young man in the gospels whom our Lord loved (Mk. 10:17-22), who therefore had charity … It had clearly never occurred to him to sell all his belongings, give the money to the poor, and follow our Lord.  Even when Jesus gave him this inspiration, he lacked the courage to act on it.  Inspiration is not enough for such great acts of charity; strength is needed too, if the inspiration is to be rendered effective.  It is the same in exceptionally sever attacks of temptation – the presence of God’s special help is absolutely essential.

 

Our Lord once revealed to St. Catherine of Siena, after a painful temptation, that he had been deep down in her heart all the while – the captain defending the citadel’s centre – and that his help alone had saved her from losing the battle.  It is the same with us whenever the devil makes a serious attack; and well might we echo Jacob’s words, that it is the angel of God, who has rescued me from my troubles (Gen. 48:16).  Well might we sing with great King David:

 

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

to revive my drooping spirit (Ps. 23: 1-2)

 

​

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1]  Cf. also Book Four, Chapter 1.

​

​

Back to Top

​