Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. Liberality is a virtue, for it puts to good use thethings that might be used for evil purposes-such, for instance, asmoney or other material things.
2. And, indeed, liberality deals, first and foremost, withmoney. A liberal man is an open-handed man, who is ready to"liberate" money from his own possession, and thus showsthat he is not inordinately attached to it.
3. The proper act of liberality, therefore, consists inmaking good use of money. Liberality demands that one's debtsbe paid, and that suitable gifts be made. Merely to be carelesswith money, neglecting to save what is needed to meet expenses andto have the means of making gifts, is not liberality.
4. Parting with money by giving it to others is a greateract of virtue than parting with it in fulfilling one's owndesires, that is, spending it on oneself. The liberal man ispraised for giving.
5. Liberality seems to be allied with justice, even thoughit givesmore than is strictly due. Therefore, it is reckonedby many as a part of justice, that is, a virtue connected withjustice but not having equal scope with it.
6. Liberality is a gracious and notable virtue, but it is notthe greatest of virtues.
"O Lord, my God, who will seek you with simple and pure love, and not find that you are all one can desire, for you show yourself first and go out to meet those who seek you?
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St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church
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"This is the greatest wisdom -- to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. "
Thomas á Kempis
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"As the flesh is nourished by food, so is man supported by prayers"
St Augustine
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