A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 42: Charity

OLRL ^ | Fr. William J. Cogan

[NYer]

Lesson 42: Charity

"And one of them, a doctor of the law, asked Him, tempting Him:  'Master, which is the great commandment in the law?'  Jesus said to him:  'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  And the second is like to this:  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets.'"  (Matthew 22:35-40)

1. What is charity?
      The virtue by which you love God above all things and your neighbor as yourself for the love of God.

   "And now there remain faith, hope and charity, these three:  but the greatest of these is charity."    (1 Corinthians 13:13)

• What is the love of God?
     Perfect love is love of God because He is supremely perfect and good in Himself; whereas, imperfect love is based on gratitude for benefits received and hope for benefits to come.

• Can you love God without loving your neighbor?
     No, because:

  "If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar.  For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not?"    (1 John 4:20)

• Who is your neighbor?
     Every human being on earth, the souls in Purgatory, the Angels and Saints.

• How should you love your neighbor?
  
  1. Wishing him well for the love of God.
  2. Performing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

• What are the spiritual works of mercy?
  
  1. To admonish the sinner.
  2. To instruct the ignorant.
  3. To counsel the doubtful.
  4. To comfort the sorrowful.
  5. To bear wrongs patiently.
  6. To forgive all injuries.
  7. To pray for the living and the dead.

• What are the corporal works of mercy?
  
  1. To feed the hungry.
  2. To give drink to the thirsty.
  3. To clothe the naked.
  4. To ransom the captive.
  5. To shelter the homeless.
  6. To visit the sick..
  7. To bury the dead.

  "To ransom the captive" was put in this list obviously from the days when Moslems took Christians captive as slaves.  Perhaps this currently less common work of mercy should be replaced by "To save the pre-born", now that abortion is so prevalent.

• What are some of the sins against charity?
  
  1. Thinking or speaking unkindly of others.
  2. Acting unkindly toward others.
  3. Hatred.
  4. Envy.
  5. Causing discord.
  6. Scandal.
  7. Co-operating in the sins of others.
  8. Not forgiving those who have offended you.
  9. Not helping those who need your help.

[NYer]

Lesson 42 of 43.

[Cvengr]

Thanks

[sirchtruth]

The fact we need to be taught these lessons is a bleak outlook for the heart, but there is hope in Christ.

Good lesson.

[TASMANIANRED]

Ransoming captives is becoming all to common again...

[Salvation]

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 1: Religion
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 2: The Bible and Tradition
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 3: God and the Holy Trinity
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 4: Prayer
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 5: Public Worship of God

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 6: Angels and Devils
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 7: Human Beings and the Purpose of Life
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 8: Sanctifying Grace
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 9: Heaven
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 10: Mortal and Venial Sin

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 11: Hell
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 12: Purgatory
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 13: Original Sin
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 14: Jesus Christ, Our Savior
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 15: Jesus Christ, True God and True Man

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 16: The Catholic Church is the Only True Church
A Brieft Catechism for Adults - Lesson 17: Qualities of the Catholic Church
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 18: The Pope, the Vicar of Christ
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 19: The Seven Sacraments
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 20: The Sacrament of Baptism

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 21: The Sacrament of Confirmation
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 22: The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 23: The Sacrifice of the Mass
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 24: The Sacrament of Penance (Confession)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 25: How to go to Confession

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 26: Indulgences
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 27: The Sacrament of Extreme Unction
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 28: The Sacrament of Holy Orders (Priesthood)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 29: The Nature of Marriage
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 30: The Sins Against Marriage

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 31: The Sacrament of Matrimony
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 32: How to have a Happy Marriage
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 33: Duties of Parents Toward Their Children
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 34: The First Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 35: The Second Commandment

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 36: The Third Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 37: The Fourth Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 38: The Fifth Commandment (w / special prayer request)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 39: The Sixth and Ninth Commandments
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 40: The Seventh and Tenth Commandments

A Brief Catechism for Adulst - Lesson 41: The Eighth Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 42: Charity

[Salvation]

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 43: Fast and Abstinence