Charity.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart. This is the greatest and the first commandment,
and the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” — St. Matt. 22:38
TWENTY-FIFTH DAY.
God gives to some persons a certain union of heart with their neighbor and a tender love for them. It is one of the grandest and most excellent gifts the Divine Goodness can give to man. — St. Francis of Sales.
This saint had received this precious gift. Speaking to one of his intimate friends, he said: “I believe there is not in the world a soul which loves more cordially, more tenderly, more fondly, than I. It has pleased God to fashion my heart in this manner.”
The holy priest Bernard possessed a tender love for his neighbor, which animated him with a great zeal for his salvation. Whenever he say approaching him someone who wished to speak to him, he begged Our Lord interiorly to instruct him what he should say for that person’s sanctification. Then he spoke with such effusion of heart, such overflowing of love, that he would be very hard of heart who could resist his touching words.
A virtuous Christian, who desired to make frequent act of love for his neighbor, never saluted any person without at the same time saluting his guardian angel, begging this celestial spirit to guard, protect, and guide him.
Prayer.
My God, give me a great love for my neighbor; let me always desire his salvation, and beg his angel to protect him.