TEACHINGS ABOUT CHARITY

It is quite common for people to say that everyone is a neighbour to himself, that is, everyone ought to take care of himself first; and teachings about charity show in what way this is true. Though everyone is a neighbour to himself, this is not of the first but of the last and lowest importance. Others governed by good are of prior importance, and then - in ascending degrees of importance - a community consisting of a number of people, one's country, the Church, and the Lord's kingdom; and above all people and all things comes the Lord.