Table of Content
Charity-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Charity is a Way of Bringing Hope to People----------------------------------------1
Charity According to the New Testament--------------------------------------------1
Charity as seen in the lives of the Early Christians---------------------------------2
Charity According to Vatican 11------------------------------------------------------3
Charity According to the Saints-------------------------------------------------------4
Charity to the Needy of Society-------------------------------------------------------5
, Charity is a Way of Bringing Hope to People.
The term Charity as its origin in the Latin word caritas which is itself a translation of the Greek
word agape, which means brotherly love. René Coste writes in his book: “ L’Amour qui Change le
Monde” (Love That Changes the World), that love gives a new value to life, and transforms the face of the
earth. Agape or brotherly love is a conscious choice, which depends more on reason, respect and the will
to act on reason rather than on pure emotion. It is a word, which translates God’s love in it deepest sense.
It is a love as that of God’s love for the world and His commitment to the human experience. Hence
charity is love in its deepest sense. It is a love, as God loves. Therefore a charitable act to our brothers and
sisters is really an expression of God’s love.1
Charity According in the New Testament
Charity according to the New Testament is based on the love of God and Love of our neighbour.
They are linked significantly by Jesus in the Great Commandment, “the love of God and of the neigbour”.
(Mk. 12:28-31) The love, which takes into consideration those close to us, is generally accepted as a
unique form of moral action. From this point we are struck to ask ourselves then, who are our neighbours
and how much more do we extend charity to them? According to the law of nature, we are bound to love
those we are living with and those outside who might need our special assistance. Naturally, men have the
tendency of loving only those who love them and nothing more. In the Old Testament for instance, we
came across the story of the Israelites- the chosen people of God, as they were called. The Israelites
considered themselves as one and a neighbour, therefore anyone outside that circle was considered an
alien not neighbour. Nevertheless, the duty of love went far beyond the community who decides to limit
1
?
Charles Abramovici, (Translator) Development and Peace- From Charity to Justice, ( of parables for a changing
world world. Canada: Paulines, 1999, p. 18-19.
2
Charity-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Charity is a Way of Bringing Hope to People----------------------------------------1
Charity According to the New Testament--------------------------------------------1
Charity as seen in the lives of the Early Christians---------------------------------2
Charity According to Vatican 11------------------------------------------------------3
Charity According to the Saints-------------------------------------------------------4
Charity to the Needy of Society-------------------------------------------------------5
, Charity is a Way of Bringing Hope to People.
The term Charity as its origin in the Latin word caritas which is itself a translation of the Greek
word agape, which means brotherly love. René Coste writes in his book: “ L’Amour qui Change le
Monde” (Love That Changes the World), that love gives a new value to life, and transforms the face of the
earth. Agape or brotherly love is a conscious choice, which depends more on reason, respect and the will
to act on reason rather than on pure emotion. It is a word, which translates God’s love in it deepest sense.
It is a love as that of God’s love for the world and His commitment to the human experience. Hence
charity is love in its deepest sense. It is a love, as God loves. Therefore a charitable act to our brothers and
sisters is really an expression of God’s love.1
Charity According in the New Testament
Charity according to the New Testament is based on the love of God and Love of our neighbour.
They are linked significantly by Jesus in the Great Commandment, “the love of God and of the neigbour”.
(Mk. 12:28-31) The love, which takes into consideration those close to us, is generally accepted as a
unique form of moral action. From this point we are struck to ask ourselves then, who are our neighbours
and how much more do we extend charity to them? According to the law of nature, we are bound to love
those we are living with and those outside who might need our special assistance. Naturally, men have the
tendency of loving only those who love them and nothing more. In the Old Testament for instance, we
came across the story of the Israelites- the chosen people of God, as they were called. The Israelites
considered themselves as one and a neighbour, therefore anyone outside that circle was considered an
alien not neighbour. Nevertheless, the duty of love went far beyond the community who decides to limit
1
?
Charles Abramovici, (Translator) Development and Peace- From Charity to Justice, ( of parables for a changing
world world. Canada: Paulines, 1999, p. 18-19.
2
