The love for one’s husband or wife should be tender and peaceful, firm and continuous. It must hold the first place since this is God’s plan and will. I say the same of the love of one’s children, close relatives and friends, each in its place.
Generally speaking what is your attitude towards your neighbour? Do you love him from your heart and for the love of God? in order to discern this well, call to mind certain persons whom you think are troublesome and unpleasant. It is specially in such cases that we practise the love of God towards our neighbour, and still more in loving those who do us harm by their actions or their words. Examine carefully whether you are sincere at heart with regard to them? Or do you have great difficulty in loving them?
Do you readily speak ill of your neighbour, especially of those who dislike you? Do you do anything evil to your neighbour directly or indirectly? Provided you are a little reasonable, you will easily notice it[1].
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[1] See also Part III, Chapter 36.