Thought for the Day – 6 January – The Memorial of Sts André Bessette C.S.C. (1845-1937) and St Charles of Sezze O.F.M. (1613-1670)
Both the Saints whose Memorials we celebrate today, lived their lives as simple porters, gardeners and the like. But they both lived their lives in total charity and love of God. And they are both saints. They fulfilled their tasks with love and utter commitment to God their Father. And through their faithfulness to these little things, God rewarded them with great things.
Since God through the Holy Spirit is the giver of charity and since true charity is beyond the capacity of human nature left to its own devices, God can give it without reference to natural gifts like intelligence. And this seems true in the case of the uncharitable: there are plenty of examples of intelligent people who lack charity—the “evil genius” is a standard literary character for a reason. (Br. Bonaventure Chapman, OP) But today also offers us a positive example of two men graced with charity which is love and is not love both question and answer and the new commandment given us. What more is needed by the grace of God?
St André Bessette and St Charles of Sezze, Pray for us!
AnaStpaul 