Chapter XXXVI. Of Love towards Enemies

ALTHOUGH Christian perfection consists in perfect obedience to the commandments of God, nevertheless it chiefly proceeds from the love of our enemies; so greatly does this precept resemble the ways of God.

If then you wish to attain to perfection by a short road, strive very accurately to observe the command of Christ, which He gives in the precept to love our enemies; love, do good to, and pray for, them, not stiffly and coldly, but with such affection, that your heart, as it were, forgetting yourself, should be wholly given up to loving them and praying for them.

Do them good then; be very careful that in every thing that affects the soul they receive no injury from you, but manifest to them by every gesture, word and deed, that you love and value them, and are always at their service.

With reference to temporal benefits, you must be guided in what you do by prudence and judgment, having consideration for the nature of your enemies, your own condition, and circumstances.

If you follow this advice, holiness and peace will enter into your heart in great abundance.

Nor is this precept so difficult to keep as some imagine. No doubt it is hard to nature, but to him who is desirous and ever anxious to subdue each movement of nature or malice that arises within him, it will become easy, bringing with it an inner spring of sweet peace and readiness. However, to help your weakness, there are four most powerful aids to which you may resort.

One is prayer;—frequently to beseech Christ to give you this love, by virtue of His Love, Who, whilst hanging on the Cross, thought first of the good of His enemies, then of His Mother, lastly of Himself.

The second aid is to remind yourself of the precept, saying to yourself, "It is the Lord's command that I should love my enemies, therefore I must do so."

The third aid is to behold in your enemies the living image of God, Who at their creation gave it to them, and thus to excite your love and esteem for it.

The fourth, to regard further the ineffable ransom wherewith Christ redeemed them, not with silver and gold, but with His Own Blood, and so exert yourself that it be not shed in vain, lost, and trodden under foot.