Dear St. Rita Families,
Charity[1] is the measure of all things. As a virtue, it is like a diamond with many facets, because every other virtue is precisely that – a facet of charity. Every other virtue shows forth an aspect of charity and can be described as a sort of “applied charity” in a particular situation or circumstance. Charity is also a “sine qua non” (“without which not”) for the other virtues. As Saint Paul would say, “If I have all faith so as to move mountains, but have not charity, I am nothing” (1 Cor 13:2). Without charity, there is no other virtue.
At the same time, without the other virtues, there is not charity. Charity cannot be such unless there is also faith and hope. Likewise, charity would not be present if there were not prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, and all the other virtues that are subordinate to these Cardinal ones. This means that charity isn’t just good intentions or feelings, nor is it a nice-ness that enables others to use our good will. Charity has teeth – “Love is as strong as death,” says the Song of Songs (8:6). This is also why a sin against any of the virtues damages charity within us. And, if it is serious enough, it becomes mortal, causing a total loss of charity in the soul.
Thus, we who are given to love God with our whole mind, heart, body, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, have received a commission from God to bring our entire life of goodness and virtue to bear on the world around us. A co-mission. In other words, God has given us to share in His mission of charity for the whole world. That means that all of the virtues must be on display in our charity. There is no room for even one virtue to be lacking!
This truth gives us great motivation to go out and tackle the evil that is around us, using the goodness that God has placed within us! Precisely in tackling that evil lies our continued growth in virtue and charity, opportunities to conquer obstacles that overcame us in the past, and to approach new ones with God’s grace. It means that the Gospel isn’t just about pleading with people to be nice to each other. It is about drowning evil in an abundance of good, standing firm in that goodness in the face of opposition and attacks, confidently proclaiming the fullness of the Gospel even though others might react in hatred or confusion.
Therefore, do not be yourselves confused by the sterile char-ity (a steril-ity) promoted by the world. The world only wants to pat itself on the back and feel like it’s doing something good (hence, virtue signaling and cancel culture). The world has lost faith and hope, not to mention prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. So, how can it have charity? It has no idea what charity is!
Well, I guess there is one way that the world can have charity. You can put it there!
In Christ,
Fr. Christensen