Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor
Saint John Chrysostom concludes: He that is pious towards men, is still more pious towards God. We begin our sanctification by learning how to love our neighbor, as Jesus commands us. By loving our neighbor we will have to fight against our own selfishness, which is at the root of many sins. Many sin by detracting and calumniating their neighbor. This is discussed in a 1999 Encyclical from Pope Michael.Matthew 5:44-48: But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect. Duties to allDuties of ParentsCharity begins at home.0 my God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured (Act of Charity from the Basic Catechism.)
Examination of the State of our Soul Towards Our Neighbor
From Saint Francis de Sales
A husband or wife should be loved with a love that is sweet and tranquil, firm and steadfast, and this must be held the first place because God has ordained it and wills it. I say the same of children and near relatives, and also of friends, each in his proper place. But to speak in general, what is the attitude of your heart towards your neighbor? Do you love him cordially and for the love of God? In order to discern this properly, think of certain persons who are troublesome and tedious; for it is in such cases that we practise the love of God towards our neighbor, and still more so when it is towards those who do us ill in deeds or in words. Examine carefully whether you experience much disinclination to love them.Are you ready to speak ill of your neighbor, and especially of those who do not love you? Do you do anything injurious to your neighbor either directly or indirectly? If you reflect but a little, you will easily be able to discover it.