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3rd Pastoral Letter of the Bishop of Acqui

everything that we need. We in turn must exercise corporal and
spiritual charity for our neighbor according to his needs. Let he
who cannot help his neighbor in his temporal needs help him in
his spiritual needs; and let he who can do both, do so willingly,
because that is how he will obtain the blessings of God who is
the father of the poor. He will show himself to be a worthy son
of the Holy Church who inspires everyone and by her example
teaches charity, imitating Our Lord Jesus Christ who was so
loving and good to the poor. One also shows that he has a
correct idea of his fellowmen in whom he recognizes so many
brothers created for the same end, heirs of the same grace,
redeemed by the same Blood, and thus helps them by his works
and advice in all their necessities.
The Apostle St. John also taught the great precept of
charity: "Dearly beloved, let us love one another; let us love not
in words and with the tongue, but with works and in truth":
carissimi, diligamus nos invicem; non diligamus verbo, neque
lingua, sed opere et veritate (I/a. IV.7; III. 18): and for our part,
we repeat this great commandment. The occasions to exercise
charity are not lacking, and let those who can come to the help
of the needy do so with a generous heart, knowing that in giving
to the poor they are amassing a treasure for themselves; in
giving material things, they will receive spiritual things; in
giving temporal things they are assuring their eternal goods.
We are consoled, dearly beloved, thinking that every time
and on every occasion that you are asked you give generously.
You will continue to do so without getting tired, and God will
abound in mercy for your souls.
With this comfort we end our letter; and aware of the faith
and fervor that animates you, we urge you to insist increasingly
on the works of penance and salvation, to apply yourselves
zealously to prayer and charity, confident that you are assuring
for yourselves every good during life, God's assistance in death
and eternal beatitude in heaven.

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