The Lord knows each by name.
Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
The infused divine virtue of Charity embraces not only God, who is its proper object, but, supernatural as it is, it is yet brought down from the heights of heaven to embrace the members of the natural order. The divine and the worldly, widely separated and even opposed in some respects, have yet a point of union, which makes it possible that the sentiment which we entertain towards God should extend in a certain degree to that which is so far beneath Him. In the ordinary course of things our attachment to any person makes us solicitous about all that is connected with him. If we truly venerate and love God, and remember the relations that all things bear to Him, and see His likeness or His vestiges in them, and the signs of His love and care for them, we shall value and love them for His sake. This charity extends chiefly to men, not only as our brethren, but as the principal work of God. Hence arises the second commandment which is like the first, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. xxii. 39). And again : "He who loveth not his brother whom he seeth, how can he love God whom he seeth not?" (1 John iv. 20). According to St. Thomas, the extension of the divine virtue of charity embraces also the animal and inanimate creation. It is a good trait of character when one loves to commune with nature; it is felt that this is in some sense communing with God. On the other hand, to do harm to God's inferior creatures shows an insensibility to God and want of love towards Him. Take care that your charity overflow and extend to all that God has made and that He loves.
