DEVOTION CORNER

"My Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis
Revised translation edited by Confraternity of the Precious Blood, Imprimatur Thomas Edmundus Molloy, Archbishop of Brooklyn, 1954

Book One - useful admonishes for a Spiritual Life

CHAPTER 15 Works Done Out of Charity

1. Evil ought not to be done, either for anything in the world or for the love of any man; but for the profit of one that stands in need a good work is not lost but is changed intoa better. Without charity the outward work profiteth nothing; but whatever is done out of charity, be it ever so little and contemptible, all becomes fruitful. - 1 Cor. xiii.3.
For God regards more with how much afection and love a person performs a work than how much he does. - Luke vii.47

2.He does much who loves much. He does much that does well what he does. He does well who regards rather the common good than his own will.
That seems often to be charity which is rather natural affection; because our own natural inclination, self-will, hope of reward, desire of our own interest, will seldom be wanting.

3.He that has true and perfect charity seeks himself in no one thing, but desires only the glory of God in all things.
He envies no man, because he loves no private joy, nor does he desire to rejoice in himself; but above all things he wishes to be made happy in God. He attributes nothing good to any man, but refers it totally to God, from whom all things proceed as from their fountain, in the enjoyment of whom all the saints repose as in their last end.
Ah! if man had but one spark of perfect charity he would doubtless perceive that all earthly things are full of vanity.