Chapter 17 — The perfection of brotherly love manifested by spiritual gifts

The perfection of fraternal charity must next be considered as manifested by the value of what we do for others. For our love for our neighbor is proved by the value of the gifts that we bestow upon him. Now there are three degrees in this charity.

The first degree consists in ministering to the bodily wants of our brethren by clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, tending the sick, and the like. Our Lord promises to consider as done to himself everything of this nature that we do for others (Matt 25:34–40).

The second degree of charity consists in bestowing upon our neighbor such spiritual benefits as do not exceed the capability of human nature, such as to instruct the ignorant, advise those in doubt, or recall those who have gone astray. Such works of mercy are commended in Job: behold, you have taught many and you have strengthened the weary hands; your words have confirmed them that were staggering and you have strengthened the trembling knees (Job 4:3).

The third degree of charity consists in enriching our neighbor with such spiritual benefits as are supernatural and exceed human reason. Such benefits are instruction in divine truth, direction to God, and the spiritual communication of the sacraments. Of gifts such as these, the Apostle says: he who gives you the Spirit, and works miracles among you (Gal 3:5). Again, he says: when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is indeed the word of God (1 Thess 2:13). And after saying: I have espoused you to one husband, he continues: for if someone comes and preaches another Christ whom we have not preached, or if you receive another Spirit whom you have not received, or another Gospel which you have not received, you might well bear with him (2 Cor 11:2, 4).

He who bestows upon others gifts of this nature practises a singular perfection of brotherly love; for it is by means of these gifts that man attains to union with his last end, in which consists his highest perfection. Job was asked by one of his friends: do you know the great paths of the clouds, and perfect knowledge? (Job 37:16). The clouds, says St. Gregory, typify holy preachers: for these clouds have most intricate paths, or ways of holy preaching, and they have perfect knowledge, when they recognize that of their own merits they are nothing, because all that they impart to their neighbors is above them. (Gregory the Great, Moralia in Job 27.37.61-62 (CCSL 143A; CPL 1708; PL 76:435C, 436A).)

A further degree of perfection is attained when spiritual gifts of this nature are bestowed not on one alone or on two, but on a whole multitude. For, even according to philosophers, the good of a nation is better and more divine than is the good of an individual man (c.f. Politics 1.2, 1253a18). (Cf. Aristotle, Politics, bk. 1, ch. 2, 1253a18; Ethics 1.2, 1094b7-10.) Hence the Apostle writes: others are pastors and doctors for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph 4:11), i.e., the Church. And again, he says: forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the Church (1 Cor 14:12).

The state of perfection