St. Paul tells us there are fifteen qualities to Charity.  Charity, he says, is patient; is kind.  Charity means no envy, no selfishness, no sinister thought, no joy in another’s evil, no pride, no perverse dealing, no ambition, no anger.  Charity rejoices in another’s good; bears all, believes all, helps all, and endures all.

     The season of Christmas seems to bring out Charity towards our neighbor.  Yet, with the increase of a secular “holiday” season attitude, Charity, too, has waned.  St. Paul’s writings give much food for thought.  Do we truly have the virtue of Charity in our hearts and outward actions?

     Firstly, Patience is the moral virtue that keeps sadness in check.  Patience enables us to accept our hurts, to feel pain without crying out, to not disturb our evenness of temper or balance.  We realize all the ills of life are meant for our good.  Patience is suffering without complaint; offering such up for the love of God.  Patience and Kindness can correct evil.

    Everything in the universe has its own fixed place; its own peculiar use.  Therefore, we must trust in providence.  We must bow to the Will of the Supreme God.  Whatever part He assigns us, we must tackle it with Patience and work ahead with content. 

     Too little love for our neighbor is a common weakness of mankind.  Selfishness is so embedded in our nature.  Charity is right only when we love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  Charity makes my neighbor a second self; his good is my good. 

     We must be perfect as Our Heavenly Father is perfect.  Setting high ideals arouses enthusiasm and energy.  Saints have taken and copied virtues that they discovered in others.  We can do this as well, when we read the lives of the Saints. 

     Patience embraces the negative qualities of Charity; Kindness, its positive qualities.  Kindness embraces the qualities of joy in another’s good, forbearance with all, faith in everybody, hope for everybody, and endurance of wrong.  Kindness means to do good to another.  Other virtues have to wait for opportunities; but, Kindness is always and everywhere in demand.  When not doing Kindness, we ought to be thinking it or talking it.  Every Kindness we do the neighbor is a kindness done to God.  Kindness sets a man close to God, a divine quality.  Nature itself inclines us that way; and, its little discomforts provoke pleasurable emotions.  Nobody knows the measure of Kindness.  Christ established the rule: we must love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

     We are not gods.  We are not self-sufficient.  We need friends; we need kindness; we need kindred hearts that are able and willing to share our joys and our sorrows.  Man’s happiness is little worth, unless it affects others; and, sorrow is overwhelming when it smites a victim devoid of every outside help.  We ought to be glad that others are better than we, because the reflection can keep us humble.  We are all one family in Christ. 

     Every manifestation of God’s goodness, that falls under our observation, proves His surpassing beauty and love.  The more God enters our thoughts, the more he attracts our will and our hearts.  We cannot grow in knowledge of God’s beauty without growing in love for God.  He will show us the way, the truth, and the life.  He will show us how we can improve in Charity towards our neighbor; and, will be our daily guide.

     Charity is patient.  Charity is kind.  Charity envieth not.  Charity is not puffed up.  Charity is not ambitious; is not provoked to anger.  (Corinthians)

     “Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men; but, especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians, 6,10.