The Kindness of Charity

"Charity is kind."

All appreciate kindness and are drawn towards those who are kind. Even natural kindness is very precious and beautiful. Kindness is one of the marks of a noble and generous character. We feel the lack of kindness most keenly when we believe others have not been kind to us. Yet, we overlook our own many acts of unkindness to others.

Should I not reproach myself for omitting many little acts of kindness that I might have done? Should I not reproach myself for sometimes being positively unkind?

Natural kindness is a sort of foundation for supernatural kindness, but the two are very distinct from each other. Natural kindness has some natural motive - our own inclinations, love for the individual to whom we are kind, or an natural benevolence. Supernatural kindness always has a supernatural motive and is directed to the glory of God. It is kindness to others for Christ's sake and for the others' sake chiefly as they are His brethren and friends, and, therefore, ours. Do I seek to supernaturalize the kindnesses I do for others to earn an eternal reward by means of them?

If we are kind to others for God's sake, He will be kind to us in our turn. Yet our kindness must not have any advantage to ourselves for its chief motive is to be the kindness of charity. We must not only have love of God in our hearts but we also must have the thought of God present to us. The kind action must be done because it is a happiness to please Him, who is in Himself so kind and good. Does my kindness stand this test?

- text from Charity, Meditations for a Month by Father Richard Frederick Clarke, SJ