July 26

First Friday after Trinity

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Colossians 3:14.

CHARITY is created love coming forth from the Uncreated, "shed abroad in our hearts" by Him Who is Uncreated Love. Love is that which is most akin to that which God is. Love unites man to God. Love lifts men to heaven, because it is of God, as it bowed God down to earth to have pity on our miseries and sins. Love is the return and flowing back of the love of God. "We love Him because He first loved us." He loved us with an infinite love. He would have us return a whole undivided love, the whole love of man for the whole Infinite love of God. It loves, in its height, God Himself for Himself, because He is what He is, even as (if we may reverently say it) God Almighty loves Himself, because He is Himself, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the One Object of all perfect love. It loves His holy creatures, Angels and Archangels, because they love Him, and His love rests upon them. It loves the Church, because it is His Body. It loves those who love Christ, because Christ loveth them; it loves those who love Him not, because He willeth them to be saved. It joys in penitents, as He said, "Rejoice with Me, for I have found the sheep which I had lost;" in the purity of innocents, in whom Christ "seeth of the travail of His soul and is satisfied." It "weeps with those who weep." They love all whom God loveth, because God loves them, and they love Him in them.

Leave me, O love! which reachest but to dust; And thou my mind, aspire to higher things, Grow rich in that which never taketh rust.

Eternal Love, maintain thy life in me.