compassion the material needs of all men; he helps them, gives,
lends, consoles to the best of his power. By means of this
generosity, men practise the seven works of mercy, the rich by their
services and the bestowal of their goods, the poor by good will and
the desire to do good if they can, and thus the virtue of generosity
is perfected. Generosity in the depth of the heart multiplies all
the virtues, and illuminates the forces of the soul. For the
generous, man is always of joyful spirit, he is without anxiety; he
is full of sympathy, and is ready to do kindnesses to all men in the
works of virtue. He who is generous, and loves not the things of
earth, however poor he may be, is like unto God, for all that he
has, and all the thoughts of his heart flow out of him in largess.
And so he is delivered from the fourth of the deadly sins, avarice.
Jesus Christ saith to these: "Blessed are the merciful, for they
shall obtain mercy"; in the day when they shall hear this word
spoken unto them: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

ON ZEAL AND DILIGENCE

FROM this generosity are born supernatural zeal and diligence in all
the virtues. None can exhibit this zeal, save the generous and
diligent man. This is an internal and eager impulse towards all the
virtues, and towards the imitation of Christ and the saints. In this
zeal, a man desires to expend in the honour of God the united powers
of his heart and senses, his soul and body, all that he is, and all
that he may receive. This zeal makes a man watchful in reason and
discrimination, and makes him practise the virtues in justice.
Thanks to this supernatural zeal, all the forces of his soul are
open to God, and prepared for all the virtues. His conscience is