"Charity never falleth away."
We are all anxious to persevere to the end. We know without perseverance all else is of no avail. Of what use was it to the Israelites who perished in the desert for their sins, to have escaped from Egypt, safely crossed the Red Sea, and toiled for years over the sandy plains? What use to Solomon to have been dear to God and endowed with supernatural wisdom, if, as some think, he did not persevere to the end? Therefore, all our graces are of no avail, but rather tend to our condemnation, if we in the end fall away and are lost.
Yet, who can be certain of perseverance? Who does not tremble at the thought of his own insecurity? We may have great gifts, but they will not save us; talent, activity, zeal, courage, prudence, will be useless to us. Even faith will not save us - the devils believe and tremble - and hope may degenerate into presumption, or may disappear and leave us at the last to an eternal despair.
How then are we to be safe? One thing alone never falleth away. One virtue alone will carry us unharmed through every danger. If we have in our hearts that supernatural gift of God that fears nothing so much as to offend Him, then we are safe. Faith may grow dim and all sorts of doubts may present themselves to our minds. Hope may seem to have disappeared altogether. All may look black and dark, but if we can say from our hearts that with God's help we would do or suffer anything rather than offend Him, then we have in our hearts that supernatural charity that unites us to God and ensures our entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, "for Charity never falleth away." Do I believe from my heart that with God's help I would do or suffer anything rather than offend Him? Do I tell Him?
- text from Charity, Meditations for a Month by Father Richard Frederick Clarke, SJ