Course 2, Chapter 25: Of union with our Lord, the new Adam, by charity. Charity. — The Decalogue

Q What is the second object of charity?

A . The second object of charity, is our neighbor, that is, all men, without exception; Christians, Jews, idolaters, and even our enemies.

1. Why must we love our neighbor?

We must love our neighbor because God wills it; 1 st, because all men are, like ourselves, created to his image; 2d, because all men are our brothers in the first and second Adam; 3d, because all men have been

redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and are all destined for the same happiness; 4th, because the end of religion is to destroy self-love, which had seized upon the heart of man since the commission of original sin, and to substitute universal charity which should make mankind one family of brothers.

2. How should we love our neighbor?

We should love him as God loves him; with a universal, generous, constant, and holy or supernatural love.

3. What is meant by the words to love our neigh bor for God's sake f

It means that we must love, our neighbor with a view to his eternal salvation, and also to please and obey God.

4. What do you observe on this subject?

I observe that it is impossible to give our charity a more solid foundation. Since God is infinitely amiable, our love for our neighbor should never be false to itself, whatever the injuries we may receive.

5. What is the end proposed by the decalogue?

The end proposed by the decalogue, is to aid us in keeping the great commandment of the love of God and of our neighbor; for our Lord has said that in this commandment all the rest are contained.

6. Should we truly love the decalogue?

Yes, we should truly love it, because it is one of the greatest works of love that God could give us, and because it is only by observing it faithfully that we can find peace for our souls.

7. How so?

Because we are made to love God; and our heart will never find peace or truce until it refers all its affections to God. Moreover, the decalogue does not infringe upon our liberty, but only restrains it within its proper limits.

Q How do you explain this?

A. Suppose a traveler going towards a magnificent

190 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

city where his family and a brilliant fortune await him. Between him and the city there is a fathomless abyss, and impervious darkness covers his way. This traveler has neither guide nor light; over this abyss there is only a small plank, narrow and very unsteady, and there is no other way by which he can reach the city. Now, if some charitable guide should take the traveler by the hand, if he should place a strong protection on both sides of the plank, and arrange many lights along, so that the traveler could not possibly fall, without wilfully extinguishing the lights or breaking down the protection, no one surely would consider this charitable guide as a tyrant, nor the protection at the sides of the plank as restricting the liberty of the traveler. Every body, on the contrary, would bless this kind-hearted guide, and would consider the barriers he placed on the plank, as the greatest service he could have rendered the traveler. Such should be our sentiments towards God and to wards his law.

8. Why so?

Because we are this traveler; the charitable guide is God; the barriers are the decalogue, which prevents us from wandering either to the right or to the left on our road to heaven. Therefore should we frequently thank God for having given us the decalogue.