Author Topic: Charity? (Read 491 times)

Katmandu · « **on:** January 16, 2012, 04:04:06 AM »

This is a question that has always intrigued me and I was wondering if any of you knowledgeable people out there can answer it, discuss it, or guide me towards that direction.

Mortal sin lessens charity within a person, and each mortal sin we commit lessens it even more.

So therefore a person who is mean and lacks charity towards their neighbor, can we then conclude that they have many Un- confessed and unrepented mortal sins on their souls? Is this a reliable source?

My thoughts are that its more than likely so.

Now I'm not judging anyone, nor am I inferring that I am in this situation myself. Actually what prompts me to ask this question is the lack of charity and the cold hearts of many people in the outside world.

Anyway, I still think its an interesting topic to talk about. If any one has anything to add please feel free to do so.

Nishant · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2012, 07:00:43 AM »

Well, if you mean charity as a supernatural virtue, the answer is mortal sin doesn't just weaken it, it destroys it completely. Mortal sin literally causes the death of the soul and is incompatible with the principle of life, or sanctifying grace within it. Charity being a supernatural virtue in the strict sense, it cannot be regained, except by God's own action, through the sacraments.

It is venial sin that affects charity, and it does so indirectly. As mortal sin is opposed to charity, venial sin is opposed to devotion, as St.Francis De Sales treats at length in his classic, "Introduction to the Devout life". So unchecked venial sins weaken our resolves and good intentions.

The Doctor explains,

"But, in fact, all true and living devotion presupposes the love of God;—and indeed it is neither more nor less than a very real love of God, though not always of the same kind; for that Love one while shining on the soul we call grace, which makes us acceptable to His Divine Majesty;—when it strengthens us to do well, it is called Charity;—but when it attains its fullest perfection, in which it not only leads us to do well, but to act carefully, diligently, and promptly, then it is called Devotion.

In short, devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness by means of which Divine Love works in us, and causes us to work briskly and lovingly; and just as charity leads us to a general practice of all God’s Commandments, so devotion leads us to practise them readily and diligently.

So devotion is the real spiritual sweetness which takes away all bitterness from mortifications; and prevents consolations from disagreeing with the soul: it cures the poor of sadness, and the rich of presumption; it keeps the oppressed from feeling desolate, and the prosperous from insolence; it averts sadness from the lonely, and dissipation from social life; it is as warmth in winter and refreshing dew in summer; it knows how to abound and how to suffer want; how to profit alike by honour and contempt; it accepts gladness and sadness with an even mind, and fills men’s hearts with a wondrous sweetness."

nadieimportante · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2012, 09:02:03 AM »

For the Older readers:

"But, in fact, all true and living devotion presupposes the love of God;—and indeed it is neither more nor less than a very real love of God, though not always of the same kind; for that Love one while shining on the soul we call grace, which makes us acceptable to His Divine Majesty;—when it strengthens us to do well, it is called Charity;—but when it attains its fullest perfection, in which it not only leads us to do well, but to act carefully, diligently, and promptly, then it is called Devotion.

In short, devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness by means of which Divine Love works in us, and causes us to work briskly and lovingly; and just as charity leads us to a general practice of all God’s Commandments, so devotion leads us to practise them readily and diligently.

So devotion is the real spiritual sweetness which takes away all bitterness from mortifications; and prevents consolations from disagreeing with the soul: it cures the poor of sadness, and the rich of presumption; it keeps the oppressed from feeling desolate, and the prosperous from insolence; it averts sadness from the lonely, and dissipation from social life; it is as warmth in winter and refreshing dew in summer; it knows how to abound and how to suffer want; how to profit alike by honour and contempt; it accepts gladness and sadness with an even mind, and fills men’s hearts with a wondrous sweetness."

Caraffa · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:06:44 PM »

Quote from: Katmandu

Mortal sin lessens charity within a person, and each mortal sin we commit lessens it even more.

That is incorrect. One mortal sin destroys the supernatural virtue of charity, even though they might still maintain a disposition to the virtue of charity and a fear of God, both of which come with the virtue of faith. Each successive mortal sin from there on damages and lessens the virtue of faith until it is lost.

Quote

So therefore a person who is mean and lacks charity towards their neighbor, can we then conclude that they have many Un- confessed and unrepented mortal sins on their souls?

It is certainly possible, but there could also be unchecked venial sins as mentioned above. In would really depend on how badly they are acting toward their neighbor.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:11:59 PM »

I think Katmandu has a really good question about meanness.