False Charity
by Father Garrigou Lagrange O.P.,
professor of Dogmatic and Mystical Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas, Rome, writing in his book, The Three Ages of the Interior Life, translated from the Italian version published by LICE, Turin, 1949, vol. 1, p. 180, footnote 2, in his discourse on the Theological Virtue of Charity:
"There in fact exits a false charity, which arises from culpable indolence, from weakness, like the sweet reproof of those who do not want to hurt anyone because they have fear of all. There is also the pretended charity, which arises from a humanitarian sentimentalism, which seeks approval as true charity, and which often contaminates it by its contact.
"One of the principal conflicts of our present age is that which rises up between true and false charity. This causes one to think of the antichrists of which the Gospel speaks; these are much more dangerous when they hide themselves than when they unmask themselves and make themselves known as the true enemies of the Church.
"Optimi corruptio pessima. The worse corruption is that which attacks in us that which is the best, the most elevated of the Theogical Virtues. The apparent good which attracts the sinner is in fact a much more dangerous temptation the more elevated is the good of which it is the likeness.
"Such is the ideal of the Panchristians, who seek a union among churches to the detriment of the Faith which is necessary for any true unity. Therefore, if through a stupidity or wickeness, more or less culpable, those who ought to represent the true Charity approve here or there what contains the false charity, an incalculable evil will result, much greater than any which has ever been worked by the declared persecutors of the Church, with whom it is manifest that we cannot have anything in common . . ."
professor of Dogmatic and Mystical Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas, Rome, writing in his book, The Three Ages of the Interior Life, translated from the Italian version published by LICE, Turin, 1949, vol. 1, p. 180, footnote 2, in his discourse on the Theological Virtue of Charity:
"There in fact exits a false charity, which arises from culpable indolence, from weakness, like the sweet reproof of those who do not want to hurt anyone because they have fear of all. There is also the pretended charity, which arises from a humanitarian sentimentalism, which seeks approval as true charity, and which often contaminates it by its contact.
"One of the principal conflicts of our present age is that which rises up between true and false charity. This causes one to think of the antichrists of which the Gospel speaks; these are much more dangerous when they hide themselves than when they unmask themselves and make themselves known as the true enemies of the Church.
"Optimi corruptio pessima. The worse corruption is that which attacks in us that which is the best, the most elevated of the Theogical Virtues. The apparent good which attracts the sinner is in fact a much more dangerous temptation the more elevated is the good of which it is the likeness.
"Such is the ideal of the Panchristians, who seek a union among churches to the detriment of the Faith which is necessary for any true unity. Therefore, if through a stupidity or wickeness, more or less culpable, those who ought to represent the true Charity approve here or there what contains the false charity, an incalculable evil will result, much greater than any which has ever been worked by the declared persecutors of the Church, with whom it is manifest that we cannot have anything in common . . ."
posted by Br. Alexis Bugnolo at 10/17/2006 08:32:00 AM
3 Comments:
Almost a prophecy of John XXIII's speech Gaudet Mater Ecclesia, on the opening of the Second Vatican Council. God have mercy on us all! Let us pray for the Pope, as requested by Our Lady of Fatima.
Felipe
Dear Brother, three little corrections, if I'm not mistaken:
I believe it's "principal conflicts", not "principle conflicts". Though it is also a conflict between principles, for sure!
Another small typo: "the Gospels peak".
Finally, the real reason I wrote: I believe the last sentence should read "with whom", rather than "without whom":
"the declared persecutors of the Church, WITHOUT [???] whom it is manifest that we cannot have anything in common"
After all, we cannot have anything in commom WITH them, rather than WITHOUT them. Am I right?
Thanks for your attention. I ask for your prayers.
Felipe
Thanks for the corrections, Filipe!
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