The virtue of the month for September in Conquest & Challenge is charity. When you think of people who were amazing examples of charity – Mother Teresa definitely makes the top ten list. She explained once what this virtue of charity is all about, “Love in action is service. Become friends to those who have no friends. Become family to those who have no family. Become community to those who have no community.”
Charity is just that simple – love people as God would love them. So why is it such a hard virtue to put into practice? Probably because it means we have to forget about ourselves and put the other person first. We have to change our priorities. That may mean to glance up from our phone or tablet to look around at the needs of others. It may mean to stop what we are doing and change our plans to help someone in need. Charity may be as easy as just listening to someone who is lonely.
There is a trick to living charity if it does not come naturally to you. Plug into the Holy Spirit! Many people wonder what kind of relationship we can have with the Holy Spirit every day. He is the Spirit of Love, the Great Consoler. He can inspire us and point out things we may miss to help us live the virtue of charity. Be honest with God –let him know that sometimes you get caught up in what you have to do and you forget the needs of others. Ask him for his help. Say this little prayer whenever you can and your charity will grow. “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.” You can even make it more personal and say “Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart and enkindle in me the fire of your love for other people.”