HOW A PERSON IN CHARITY GROWS IN CHARITY
Let us use a parable, Theotimus, since this method was a favourite one for the supreme Master of the love we are teaching. A great and brave king married a lovable young princess. One day, to have a talk with her, he took her aside to a small room. After some conversation, she suddenly fell down unconscious at his feet due to some unforeseen illness. Alas! He was in such severe shock that he almost collapsed at her side, because he loved her more than his own life. Nevertheless, the same love that gave him this great grief also gave him so much strength to support her. With an unusual promptness he reacted to remedy the evil that had happened to the dear companion of his life. Quickly he opened a nearby sideboard and took out a costly restorative and filled his mouth. He forcefully opened the lips and clenched teeth of his beloved princess. Then he blew and poured the precious liquid from his own mouth into the mouth of this poor unconscious princess. The rest of the liquid in the phial was applied around her nostrils, temples and chest. Thus, he brought her back to consciousness and to her senses. Gently lifting her up, he revived and strengthened her with the strength of the medicine. She could then stand up and slowly started to walk with him, not without his help. Finally, he applied a potent and precious ointment over the region of her heart. After that, she felt herself completely restored to her former health. She could walk without the help of anyone. Her dear husband no longer gave her firm support but held her right hand gently in his hand, and held his right arm folded over her and over her chest. In this way, he went on assisting her performing four pleasant functions: 1. He testified that his heart was full of loving care for her; 2. He kept on alleviating her distress a little; 3. If any feeling of her former weakness should return to her, he was there to support her. 4. If she happened to encounter some staircase or rough and difficult spot, he was there to hold her and support her. Or, if she wanted to walk a little faster, he would firmly support her. Thus, he remained there, giving her this heartfelt care until nightfall. Still he wanted to assist her to lay her on her royal bed.
A soul is the spouse of our Lord when it is just. It is not just when it is not in a state of charity. The soul is not a spouse if it is not led into the chamber filled with the fragrance of those perfumes of which the Canticle speaks (Song 1:3). When a soul thus honoured commits sin, it falls into a spiritual swoon. Truly, it is an unexpected accident. Who would ever think that any creature wishes to forsake its Creator, the supreme good, for anything as trivial as an allurement to sin? Indeed, heaven itself is amazed at it! If God were to be subject to passion, he would fall into a swoon at such a disaster. When he was mortal, he [Jesus] died on the cross to redeem us from sin. It is no longer necessary for him to use his love to die for us. When he sees a soul plunged into evil, he rushes to help it. With mercy which is unique, he opens the heart’s door by the pricks and remorse of conscience. This comes from the various kinds of light and apprehension he casts into our spirit in salutary inspiration. In this way, like sweet smelling and life-giving waters, he revives the soul and brings it back to good sentiments. All this, Theotimus, God works in us but without us by his most loving goodness, which comes before us from his gentleness. Our bride, having fainted would have died in her swoon, if the king had not helped her. So a soul would remain lost in its sin if God did not assist it. But the soul thus aroused adds its consent to the feelings, to the grace, in responding to the inspiration that has come to its help and accepts the needed assistance and remedies that God has prepared for it. Then God will empower it and lead it by various acts of faith, hope and contrition till he has restored it to its true spiritual health, which is nothing but charity. Thus he makes the soul practise the virtues by which he disposes it to his holy love. He not only guides the soul, but sustains it in such a way that for its part it walks forward as much as it can. God on his part supports and continues to sustain it. It is difficult to say, whether the soul walks or is carried. For it is not so much carried that it does not walk. Yet its walking is such that if the soul were not carried it could not walk. Therefore the person can say, in the words of the Apostle [St. Paul]: I walk not I [alone], but the grace of God that is with me (1 Cor 15:10).
The human spirit is completely restored to health by the fine ointment of charity, which the Holy Spirit places in its heart. It can walk on its own and sustain itself, however, by virtue of this health and the sacred ointment of holy love. That is why, though the soul could walk by itself, it should render glory to God. It is God who grants the person the vigour and vitality of health. The Holy Spirit strengthens us with inspirations. He imprints on us or sustains us by charity which he pours out into our heart. He comes to our aid by lifting us up. He carries us forward. He strengthens our hearts by pouring into them the energy and vitality of love. In all these, it is always in him and by him that we live, walk and work (Acts 17:28).
Nevertheless, it is by charity poured out in our hearts (Rom 5:5) that we are enabled to walk in the presence of God and progress in the way of salvation. Yet it is divine goodness that helps the person to which God has given his love. He holds the person constantly in his sacred hand. Thus, 1). He makes us see the sweetness of his love for the person; 2). He continues to enliven the person more and more; 3). He strengthens the person against the evil tendencies, bad habits acquired because of past sins; 4). Finally, he keeps and protects the person against temptations.
Do we not see, Theotimus, that often robust and healthy persons need to be challenged to use their strength and power well? Or so to speak, they are led by the hand to work. So God has given us his charity through the strength and ability to make progress in the way of perfection. His love, however, does not permit us to walk alone but makes him accompany us. His love incites him to urge us and to entreat his heart to appeal to and urge our heart to make good use of charity which he has granted us. He repeats often by his inspirations, the admonitions of St Paul: We urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. (2 Cor 6:1). So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all. (Gal 6:10): Run in such a way that you may win it. (1 Cor 9:24). We should often imagine that God is whispering in the ears of our hearts the words told to the good Patriarch Abraham: Walk before me and be perfect (Gen 17:1).
For the person in charity, God’s special help is needed in important and extraordinary undertakings. Charity, however little, gives us sufficient inclination and I believe, sufficient strength, to do works for salvation. However, in order to aspire to and undertake excellent and extraordinary deeds our heart needs to be drawn and lifted by the hand and the inspiration of the great heavenly Lover. It is like the princess in our parable: quite restored to health, unable to climb up nor move quickly without her husband’s help. Thus, St. Anthony and St. Simeon Stylites were in God’s grace and charity when they decided to lead a lofty life. So also, with the blessed [St.] Mother Teresa [of Avila] when she made her special vow of obedience; St. Francis [of Assisi] and St. Louis, when they undertook their journeys overseas for the glory of God; Blessed [St.] Francis Xavier when he consecrated his life to the conversion of the Indians; St Charles [Borromeo] when he devoted himself to the service of the plague-stricken and St. Paulinus when he sold himself to ransom a poor widow’s child. They would have never carried out a mission or task so difficult and generous without charity in their hearts. God had added inspirations, calls, lights and special power. God animated them and pushed them to such extraordinary exploits of spiritual valour.
Do you not see the young man in the Gospel whom our Lord loved, and consequently he was in the state of charity. Certainly, he had never thought of selling his possessions and giving them to the poor and following our Lord. Even though our Lord has given him the inspiration, he still lacked the courage to act on it. For these great works of charity, Theotimus, we need not only to be inspired but also to be strengthened in order to accomplish what the inspiration demands of us. So amidst great assaults of extraordinary temptations, God’s special and particular help is absolutely essential. Hence, Holy Church makes us often plead “stir up our heart, O Lord."[1] “O God, go before our actions by your holy inspirations, and advance them by your constant help."[2] O Lord make haste to help us (Ps 70:1). Prayers like these are aimed at not only obtaining grace to accomplish certain outstanding and extraordinary works, but frequently and fervently for doing ordinary things. They are also to gain us greater zeal in resisting little temptations and fighting courageously against the greater ones.
St Anthony [the Hermit] was once assailed by a terrible crowd of devils. He endured their attacks for a long time with incredible pain and torments. He saw finally the roof of his cell torn apart and a beam of heavenly light stream through the opening. Instantly, it dissipated the dark and shadowy troop of his enemies. Thus he was delivered from all the pains and blows received in the battle. He recognized the light as God’s special presence. He breathed a deep sigh in the direction of the vision: “ Where were you O good Jesus, where were you?" he said. “Why were you not here earlier to deliver me from my pain?" The Lord responded from above, “Anthony, I was there but waited for the outcome of your struggle. Since, you have been brave and valiant, I will help you always". But, wherein consists the bravery and courage of the great spiritual soldier? He himself stated it on another occasion, when he was attacked by a devil who avowed to be the spirit of fornication. After many words worthy of great courage, St. Anthony began to sing the seventh verse of Psalm 118:
The Lord is on my side to help me;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
St. Catherine of Siena had a painful temptation. Our Lord revealed to her that he [Jesus] was deep down in her heart to defend her like a captain in the centre of the fort. Without his help, she would have lost her battle. It is same for all great assaults that our enemies wage against us. We can say like Jacob that it is: The angel who has redeemed me from all harm (Gen 48:16). We can sing with great king David:
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters (Ps 23:1,2).
Hence, we should often repeat this exclamation and prayer:
Surely goodness and mercy
Shall follow me
All the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house ofthe Lord My whole life long (Ps 23:6).
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[1] Collect, second Sunday in Advent.
[2] Prayer commonly used.