Tuesday, February 26, 2008

AC 6073 - What are the goods of charity?

AC 6073
All the goods which are called goods of charity are nothing but uses,
and uses are nothing but works for the neighbor,
for our country, for the church, for the Lord's kingdom.
Moreover regarded in itself charity itself does not become charity
until it comes into act and becomes work.
For to love anyone, and not do him good when we have the power,
is not to love him;
but to do him good when we have the power, and to do it from our hearts,
this is to love him;
and then all things of charity toward him
are contained within the very deed or work;
for a man's works are the complex of all things of his charity and faith,
and are what are called spiritual goods,
and indeed become goods by exercise, that is, by means of uses.

[2] As the angels who are in heaven are in good from the Lord,
they long for nothing more than to perform uses.
These are the very delights of their life,
and it is also according to uses that they enjoy bliss and happiness.

2 comments:

Heavenly Doctrine Quotes said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Heavenly Doctrine Quotes said...

"suffers" is being used in the sense of "allow"

So the quote could read "...nothing but good comes from God, for in so far as a person allows it, God bends evil into good."

Bill