Selflessness of True Charity
In order to practice even the smallest act of charity towards my neighbor for the love of God, I would willingly throw myself into the flames of hell … but only with the grace and love of God. (OOCC, X, p. 146; STA, 205)
True love is selfless. It never thinks of itself. A person who has true charity does not seek his own advantage in anything he does. The one consideration that overwhelms the mind of the man of true charity is that good must be done everywhere and every time. His concern is to bring happiness to the lives of others by performing works of charity. He is ready to take any trouble on himself in order to do what is good and bring joy to others. St. Vincent Pallotti lived out this selfless charity in his life. He said that in order to do even the smallest act of charity towards his neighbor, he would be ready to throw himself into the flames of hell, provided it was what God wanted of him. He was ready to go to hell and undergo all pains associated with it because God wants him to love his neighbor. Such was his selflessness in accomplishing genuine acts of charity.
Do I perform works of true charity? Am I selfless in the works of charity I perform? Do I take trouble on myself in order to perform works of charity and bring happiness in the lives of the people with whom I live?
Love is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges… It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. (I Cor. 13: 1-7)