Chapter 84

The light is Charity, and the measuring of this light is done to us profitably by the wisdom of God. For neither is the light so large that we may see our blissful Day, nor is it shut from us; but it is such a light in which we may live meedfully, with travail deserving¹ the endless worship of God. And this was seen in the Sixth Shewing where He said: I thank thee of thy service and of thy travail. Thus Charity keepeth us in Faith and Hope, and Hope leadeth us in Charity. And in the end all shall be Charity.

The light is love, and God wisely gives us the measure of this light that will help us. The light is not bright enough for us to see our blessed Day, but neither is it hidden from us. It is enough light for us to live in a way that earns reward, and through our toil to deserve¹ the endless honor of God. This was shown in the Sixth Showing, where he said: I thank you for your service and your toil. Thus love keeps us in faith and hope, and hope leads us in love. In the end, all shall be love.

I had three manners of understanding of this light, Charity. The first is Charity unmade; the second is Charity made; the third is Charity given. Charity unmade is God; Charity made is our soul in God; Charity given is virtue. And that is a precious gift of working in which we love God, for Himself; and ourselves, in God; and that which God loveth, for God.

I understood this light, Charity, in three ways. The first is uncreated Charity, the second is created Charity, and the third is Charity given. Uncreated Charity is God. Created Charity is our soul in God. Charity given is virtue. Virtue is a precious gift that moves us to love God for himself, ourselves in God, and what God loves for God’s sake.