things, and makes all that is bitter sweet and savory." — St. Teresa, Foundat. c. v.
The perfection of charity is attained by self-renunciation, by entire mortification, by purity of heart, and total abandonment to God.
Our Lord says: " Learn of Me "; "He that followeth Me walketh not in darkness"; "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matt. viii. 34).
Father Buckler, speaking of charity, the essence of perfection, asks: "How are we to follow Christ?" And he replies: "The answer is, that Our Lord's way is the way of perfect love. He is the divine Lover of God and of men. For the love of God and of men He became incarnate, lived on earth, taught the law of love and the life of love, suffered for love and died for Jove sent down the Spirit of His love upon the Church, to be the ruling power of our lives and actions, by the charity of God poured forth into our hearts (Rom. v. 5), and left us the marvelous gift of Himself, to the end of the world, in the mystery of love on the altar, wherein He dwells as the divine Lover in the midst of those He loves — working with us, nourishing and perfecting His life of love in the souls of men. 'Be ye followers of God,' says St. Paul, 'and walk in love, as most dear children ' (Eph. v. 2)."
It is by charity that we follow Our Lord in the way of perfection.
3. — Fraternal Charity
Our happiness depends to a great extent on our observance of the law of fraternal charity: "Thou Shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," and of the golden
