Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/350



To love  God  without  at  the  same  time  loving  our neighbor is  impossible. The same  precept  that  prescribes love  towards  God  imposes  a  strict  obligation  of fraternal  charity. And this  commandment  we  have  from God  that  he  who  loveth  God  love  also  his  brother.  Hence St. Thomas  teaches  that  the  love  of  God  and  the love of  our  neighbor  proceed  alike  from  charity. For charity makes  us  love  God  and  our  neighbor,  because such is  the  will  of  God. Such too  was  the  doctrine of St. John the  Evangelist. St. Jerome  relates  that being asked  by  his  disciples  why  he  frequently  recommended fraternal  love,  that  holy  apostle  replied:  "Because it  is  the  precept  of  the  Lord,  and  the  fulfilment  of it  alone  is  sufficient."

St. Catharine  of  Genoa  once  said  to  the  Lord:  "My God,  Thou  dost  command  me  to  love  my  neighbor;  and I  can  love  nothing  but  Thee." " My  child,"  answered Jesus, "he  that  loves  me,  loves  whatsoever  I  love." Indeed, when we  love  any  person  we  also  love  his  relatives, his servants,  his  likeness,  and  even  his  clothes,  because we know  that  he  loves  them. And why  do  we  love  our