Tuesday, March 8 : Saint Vincent de Paul

What is charity’s first action? What does a heart moved by it produce? What emerges from it by contrast with someone who lacks it? It is certainly to do to everyone what within reason we would wish to be done to ourselves. In this is charity summed up. Is it true that I do to my neighbor what I myself wish from him? Ah! here there is a great examination of conscience to be done… Let us consider the Son of God: what a heart of charity, what a flame of love! My Jesus, be pleased to tell us something about what it was that drew you down from heaven to come and suffer earth’s misfortune, the many persecutions and torments you received here? O Savior, O source of love, humbled even to us, even to infamous suffering: who has loved their neighbor more than you? You came to expose yourself to all our wretchedness, to take on the form of a sinner, to lead a suffering life and suffer a humiliating death for our sake. Is there any love like this?… There is no one but Our Lord who has been so seized with love for creatures that he abandoned his Father’s throne to come and take on a body subject to infirmity. And why? To establish amongst us, by his example and word, love of neighbor… O friends, if only we had a little of that love would we stand by with our arms folded?… No! charity cannot remain idle. It sets us to work for the healing and comforting of others.

maronite readings – rosary,team