"Fountain
of love! You humbled yourself before us and accepted an infamous
punishment. You loved us so much that you opened yourself to our pain
and suffering, you took the form of a sinner, and you endured a most
horrible death. Is there any greater love? … Who else has loved us
in this way? Nobody but our Lord. Who else was driven by such love
for the human person that he left his Father’s throne, became one
like us, subjected himself to our infirmities? And why? To give us an
example of how we should love one another. Yes, Jesus’ love caused
him to be crucified and, through his love, we have been redeemed. If
we had only some degree of this love, we could not stand by with our
arms folded. We would not be able to see our brothers and sisters in
pain and not do something to alleviate their suffering. No. Charity
cannot remain inactive; it urges us to save and console others." (“On
Charity,” May 30, 1659, O.C., XI, 555)
