do not offend because they know how to temper their refusal by
sweetness of manner. Charity possesses this art in a high degree,
and, besides, raises a mere worldly art into a virtue and fruit of
the Holy Ghost.

XI

SIXTH CHARACTERISTIC

_To share the joys and griefs of our brethren_

AS the soul in the human body establishes all its members as
sharers equally in joys and griefs, so charity in the religious
community places everything in common content, affliction,
material goods driving out of existence the words mine and thine.
It lavishes kind words and consolations on all who suffer in any
way through ill-humour, sickness, want of success, etc.; it
rejoices when they are successful, honoured, and trusted, or
endowed with gifts of nature or grace, felicitates them on their
good fortune, and thanks God for them. If, on the one hand,
compassion sweetens pains to the sufferer by sharing them, on the
other hand participation in a friend's joys doubles them by making
them personal to ourselves. Would to God that this touching and
edifying charity replaced the low and rampant vice of jealousy!

When David returned after he slew the Philistines, the women came
out of all the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King
Saul. And the women sang as they played, "Saul slew his thousands
and David his ten thousands." Saul was exceedingly angry, and this
word was displeasing in his eyes, and he said: "They have given
David ten thousand, and to me they have given but a thousand. . .
. And Saul did not look on David with a good eye from that day
forward. . . . And Saul held a spear in his hand and threw it,
thinking to nail David to the wall" (1 Kings). Thus it is that the
jealous complain of their brethren who are more successful,
learned, or praised; thus it is that they lance darts of calumny,
denunciation, and revenge.

XII

SEVENTH CHARACTERISTIC

_Not to be irritated when others wrong us_

WE must pardon and do good for evil, as God has pardoned us and
rendered good for evil in Jesus Christ. It is vain to trample the
violet, as it never resists, and he who crushes it only becomes
aware of the fact by the sweetness of its perfume. This is the
image of charity. It always strives to throw its mantle over the
evil doings of others, persuading itself that they were the
effects of surprise, inadvertence, or at most very slight malice.
If an explanation is necessary, it is the first to accuse itself.
Ne