From the divine precepts, most beloved, and from the apostolic institutions we have learned that the mercy of God is to be sought, through the showing of mercy, by every man set amid the perils of this life. For what hope would raise up the fallen, what medicine would heal the wounded, unless alms discharged our faults, and the needs of the poor became remedies for our offenses? Whence, because the Lord had said: 'Blessed are the merciful, for God shall have mercy on them,' that whole examination by which in His majesty present He is to judge the entire world, He has shown must be weighed under this equity: that, once the quality of works toward the needy alone has been examined, it is prepared both for the impious to burn with the devil, and for the kindly to reign with Christ. What things done shall not there be brought into the open?
What hidden things shall not be uncovered? What consciences shall not lie open? Where truly no one shall boast that he keeps a chaste heart, or that he is clean from sin. But since mercy shall be exalted above judgment, and the gifts of clemency shall transcend every recompense of justice, the whole life of mortals and the diversity of all their actions shall be assessed under the condition of a single rule: so that there no remembrance of anyone's crime need be made, where by the confession of the Creator the works of piety have been found. Not only, therefore, did those on the left do what will be cast in their teeth, nor because as strangers to humanity they will be convicted, will they be found guiltless of the sins of others;
but in many things they shall be held guilty and above all condemned for this: that they redeemed their crimes with no alms. For since it belongs to a most hardened heart not to be moved by any misery of those who suffer, and since one who does not help the afflicted, though he has the means to aid, is as wicked as one who has oppressed the weak, what hope remains for the sinner who does not even show mercy in order that he may obtain mercy? First of all, therefore, most beloved, he is evil to himself who is not good to another, and he harms his own soul who does not, as he is able, succor another's. The nature of rich and poor is one, and amid the other frailties of human nature there is no safe felicity of health, for that into which some may fall, there is no one who ought not to fear.
Let mutable and perishable mortality recognize itself in all men whatsoever, and by reason of the common condition let it render a fellow-feeling to its own kind; let it weep with those who weep, and groan with the groans of those who grieve; let it share its abundance with the needy; while the body's service is in good health, let it bend down to the ailing man who lies sick: let it count among its own food the portion of the hungry, and in the pale, trembling nakedness of others let it believe itself to be cold. For he who relieves the temporal misery of the suffering escapes the eternal punishment of the sinner. Providently, therefore, most beloved, it was piously ordained by the holy Fathers that at various seasons there should be certain days which would summon the devotion of the faithful people to a public contribution;
and because to the church above all recourse is had by everyone seeking help, there should arise from the means of many a voluntary and holy collection, which by the care of those who preside might serve the necessary expenses. To the desired fruit of this work, as we trust, the approaching day invites you; and as our admonitions are added, that on the coming Sabbath you may bring the gifts of your mercy to the churches of your districts. And because God loves a cheerful giver, let no one prescribe to himself more than his substance permits. Let every man be a fair judge between himself and the poor. Let broad and secure compassion remove all mistrust; and let him who assists the needy understand that he is lending to God what he bestows.
From substances of whatever kind, whose measure is certainly not one and the same, there can be equal merit, if among the differing amounts of the givers no one's piety be less than his ability. For God, with whom there is no respect of persons, receives alike both the gift of the rich and of the poor: since He knows what He has given to each, and what He has not given; and in the day of recompense not the amount of income shall be judged, but the quality of wills. Through Christ our Lord.