Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne

“Charity covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8)

If we possessed charity accompanied by compassion and sorrow, we would not pay attention to the faults of our neighbor, according to the saying: “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8) and again: “Love does not dwell on wrongdoing, but excuses everything” (1 Corinthians 13:5-7). If, therefore, we had charity, charity itself would cover every fault, and we would be like the saints when they see the faults of others.

Are the saints so blind that they cannot see sins? But who hates sin as much as the saints? And yet, they do not hate the sinner, they do not judge him, they do not flee from him. On the contrary, they have compassion for him, exhort him, console him, and care for him like a sick member of his body; they do everything to save him. When a mother has a deformed child, she does not turn away from him in horror; she takes pleasure in adorning him and does everything to make him graceful. In this way, the saints always protect the sinner, prepare him, and take him under their wing to correct him at the opportune moment, to prevent him from harming another, and also to grow themselves more deeply in the charity of Christ.

Let us, therefore, also acquire charity; let us acquire mercy toward our neighbor, to guard ourselves against terrible slander, judgment, and contempt. Let us help one another as we would our own members. For “we are members of one another,” says the Apostle (Romans 12:5); “when one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Corinthians 12:27). In short, each of us, according to our ability, strive to be united with one another. For the more we are united to our neighbor, the more we are united to God.