Charity, December's Virtue

What is the virtue of Charity?  “Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Jesus makes charity the new commandment. By loving His own ‘to the end,’ He makes manifest the Father’s love which He receives. By loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive. Whence Jesus says: ‘As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you; abide in My love.’ And again: ‘This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (CCC 1822, 1823)  The supernatural virtue of charity makes up what is lacking in our human ability to love and strengthens us to love as God loves, in reality allowing Him to love in and through us.   In receiving God’s love and our responding to His love, we reach the heights of prayer, that is, our union in relationship with Him.  Charity binds everything in the Christian life together in perfect harmony and assures the unity of the Church. (Colossians 3:15)  Why do we need the Virtue of Charity?  The supernatural gift of charity makes it possible for us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mt 22:37).   Charity allows us to love our friends as well as “enemies”; to pray for those who persecute us...hating the sin but loving the sinner.   Blessed Mother Teresa is a great example of the virture Charity.  She took care of the poorest of the poor. She said, “Show love to others as you would show your love directly to Jesus Christ.”  She knew that we all thirst for the love of others. “It is being unwanted that is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience.”  In her Home for Dying Destitutes, she provided gentle care and cleanliness in an atmosphere of dignity and love.  Her greatest impact on society was to bring an awareness that love is worth nothing unless it is given for free.  Ideas for Discussion: Identify positive role models who exemplify the virtue of charity through a life of prayer and action.  What TV program do you watch where the virtue of charity is practiced? Discuss how specific programs present obstacles to selfless love and living out charity.  Discuss what it means to be charitable. How would someone know you practice the virtue of charity?