Love: A Community Virtue

If love, the substantial constituent of the Pious Society, were ever wanting in the Society, it would mean the end of the Catholic Apostolate. Hence, woe to him who dares to offend against love. He would be guilty of the destruction of the Society. (OOCC, III, pp. 137-138)

St. Vincent Pallotti considered love as a community virtue, i.e., a virtue that is very vital for the true life of the community. At the same time, it is the most difficult virtue to keep in the community as its practice calls for a great deal of adjustment on the part of each member of the community. But if this virtue is lacking in a community, it will not be a community in the true sense of the word, as without understanding, acceptance and mutual care for each other, we cannot think of a community. When St. Vincent founded the Union of Catholic Apostolate, he based it on the foundation of love and asked every member of the Society to be motivated by the true spirit of love. Thus, love was the substantial constituent of the Union. Therefore, for St. Vincent, if love were ever wanting in the Society, it would bring about its death. Hence, he admonished all the members of the Union to cultivate the true spirit of love within them, so that by their lack of love, they may not be responsible for the destruction of the Society. Hence, every member of the Union of Catholic Apostolate should take personal responsibility for the life and growth of the Union, specifically by living the commandment of Charity within the Union. Once true love is present among the members of the Union, then as a community, each member within the Union would be able to express his love towards people outside the Union.

Do I recognize the importance of love as a community virtue? Do I take the trouble to practice this virtue in view of giving true life and energy to the community of which I am a part? Do I realize that loving every member within my community is vital for loving people outside my community genuinely?

And over all these put on love that is the bond of perfection. (Col. 3: 14)