Deus Caritas Est : God is Love
Just now we celebrated Easter with Pope Benedictus XVI.
This Pope has surprised us in many respects. Take for instance his first encyclical:
“Deus Caritas Est”. A title that we, the Brothers of Charity, are not unfamiliar with, for it is the motto that
our founder once chose for us. So, there are many reasons to be happy with the Pope’s debut and to examine it more thoroughly.
Some people were surprised that the Pope chose to devote his first encyclical to
love and not to faith. It could have to do with his advanced age and the realization that he is unlikely to remain Pope as
long as his predecessor: twenty five years. So, whatever he writes must have to do with the essence, which reminds of St. John the Evangelist who, towards the end, only wrote about love. “Beloved, let us love
one another, because love is of God (1 John 4: 7)”.
Moreover, the Pope is right to claim that love is the cornerstone of our faith and
that it is important for this love to be fully understood, certainly in an age in which so much is said and written on love,
and in which so many contradictory ideas on love circulate.
“Deus Caritas Est” can be divided in two parts: a rather more theoretical
and theological reflection on the love of God and the more practical application of charity. And oral introduction, he emphasized
that one must not separate the two: charity I always a reflection of the love of God, and is part of the essence of the Church.
That should not surprise the members of our congregation either.
We learn what human love constitutes by examining it and by discovering its positive
powers. We learn what God’s love is capable of by looking at Jesus who may be regarded as its incarnation. God loved
man and the world to such an extent that he became human himself through his son Jesus Christ. And it is through the love
lived by man that God’s love is brought in lives and into the world. Charity is the exteriorization of that love to our fellow man. And the Gospel tells us that this love ought be unlimited, unconditional,
immeasurable since god’s love is unlimited, unconditional, and immeasurable. God’s love (agape), the love lived
between people (philia and eros) and the love given to all without making any distinction (caritas) are different expressions
of the love, which originates with God. It is exactly through charity that we give shape to God’s love.
And this brings us to the second part of the encyclical, in which the Pope describes
and analyses charity in the context of today.
Whoever pronounces the word “charity” today stands a good chance of
having to face up to people knitting their brows. Should charity not be replaced by philanthropy?. Is charity not contradictory
to justice?. Topical questions that require topical answers. Especially since the rise of Marxism, there has been increasing
criticism on Church based charity. Allegedly, charity perpetuates poverty and does not lead to greater equality. Still, we
must make sure not to blame certain unjust situations on charity. It is the state itself that is responsible for its structures,
and the Church must play its role in them, most of all in the development of a conscience. In the context of a correct balance
between Church and State, it is up to the Church to develop clear views on social justice and to defend them and to claim
the freedom to work on the development of greater social justice through the organization of charitable activities. In that
respect, we like to refer to the social doctrine of the Church, which may be
called unique as it deals with so many areas in the organization of society and treats
of the large range of activities that were developed by the Church through the centuries. At the same time, the Church will
have to take care not to become involved in political matters. “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”.
Regarding charity itself, the encyclical gives a number of clear guidelines. One
has to make sure that man remains at the centre at all times in this ever more structured and organize service and help. Professionalism
is enormously important, but must also involve training and formation of the heart. Christian charity must never be used to
convert people. But on some occasions, speaking mentioned in order to let love speak for itself. Charity must be nourished
spiritually, for real dedication to people only becomes charity, if it stands the test of the radicalism o f the commandment
of love. That makes all the difference between charity and philanthropy. Philanthropy is about the charity, that improvement
is nourishment and inspired by God’s love, which makes every service, every encounter with a fellow man an encounter
with the living Christ. For, whenever we speak about charity, we must think of the Good Samaritan and listen to Christ who
identified with the poor. “I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for
me (Mt. 25: 40)”. Thus, charity becomes God’s love.
As Brothers of Charity, we can learn a lot about the encyclical. When I showed my
appreciation for his encyclical to the Pope and shortly introduced our congregation during an audience, he replied, “Yes,
I have written about it, but you are doing it”. Was it a compliment or a long lasting mission?. Probably both but especially
an invitation to discover Jesus’ eyes in the eyes of the poor. For that probably is charity’s ultimate secret!.
Bro. Renč Stockman, FC
Superior General of the Brothers of Charity
President International Institute Canon Triest
