Charity · 11 of 12

Where There Is No Truth of Faith

212.XII WHERE THERE IS NO TRUTH OF FAITH, THE CHURCH DOES NOT EXIST; AND WHERE THERE IS NO GOOD OF LIFE, RELIGION DOES NOT EXIST. The Church and religion make one, like truth and good. And because truth is of faith and good is of charity, they make one as faith and charity do; and, in order that it may be still more clearly understood, they make one as do the understanding and the will. It is well known that it is possible for a man to understand well and all the while not will well, and to understand truths and thence give utterance to them, and yet not from willing them do them. But when he wills as he understands, and does as he says, then the will and the understanding with him make one. It is similar in the case of the Church and religion. The Church is a Church from its doctrine; and religion is religion from a life in accordance with doctrine. And the doctrine ought to be composed of truths, and the life ought to be made up of goods.

213.But, in order that these things may come into a clearer light, they must be explained in the following order: (1) All the truths of faith in the Church are from the Word. (2) The truths of faith that are from the Word teach what is to be believed and what is to be done, so that a man’s lot may be eternal life. (3) It is said “the Church” on account of doctrine, and “religion” on account of a life in accordance therewith. (4) With those who, by both doctrine and life, are in faith separate from charity, there is neither the Church nor religion.

214.IV THE NEIGHBOUR IS TO BE LOVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS SPIRITUAL GOOD, AND HIS MORAL, CIVIL, AND NATURAL GOOD THEREFROM; CONSEQUENTLY IT IS GOOD THAT, IN A SPIRITUAL SENSE, IS THE NEIGHBOUR TO BE LOVED. (1) A man is not a man by reason of his face and body, but by reason of the good of his will. (2) When the good of a man’s will is loved, the man himself is being loved. (3) A man is a man by reason of his spiritual good, and not by reason of his moral, civil, and natural good separate from spiritual good. (4) Such as a man’s spiritual good is, such is his moral, civil, and natural good; because these three goods derive their life solely from spiritual good. (5) Consequently, it is good that, in a spiritual sense, is the neighbour to be loved. OBS. - Spiritual good is the good of charity, thus, the Lord, heaven, and the Church with him; for such is the man in the goods derived from it.