Charity from A Healing Rosary

From my book, A Healing Rosary, a brief look at the virtue of charity traditionally associated with The Second Joyful Mystery – The Visitation.

Charity has two parts, love of God and love of man.  It begins with allowing ourselves to be loved by God Our Father as His children and by Jesus as His brothers and sisters.  It then manifests itself in outward displays of love for others just as God has loved us.  When we act in charity towards another there is no desire for reciprocity or reward.  The act is done as if it is being done by God, through us, towards Himself in others.  We are transparent and God’s love flows through us to Himself in others.  As God gives selflessly to us we choose by charity to selflessly give to others.  At times this will require sacrifice.  But isn’t this exactly the kind of love we are called to in Christ, a sacrificial love that removes all reward for us and implies that we desire what is best for another above ourselves? 

Charity is not always giving to others.  It is also allowing others the joy of giving to us, humbly accepting what others wish to do for us.  It is also loving ourselves as God loves us, completely.