Charity and truth

Let us walk in truth and charity. Our loyal fidelity to the deposit of faith, to the Church’s magisterium, will make us bearers of the truth, veritatem facientes in caritate,⁴⁶ teaching the doctrine of the Gospel with Christ’s charity.

Tolerance with people

When it is not possible to make concessions, our intransigence should be holy, and therefore we will be unyielding with respect to doctrine, but not towards people. Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to lead them to God, nor would it be easy for us to treat them as our brothers and sisters, as our Christian faith requires.

Intransigence in faith, with charity

We cannot give way in matters of faith, but let’s not forget that there is never any need to mistreat people in order to speak the truth.

If ever, exceptionally, because of the other person’s impudence and violence, we have to say things energetically, then to prevent our words from wounding – irascimini et nolite peccare!⁴⁷ even if we speak harshly, we mustn’t get carried away – we should immediately pour the balm of charity on the wounds, treat, and heal them, explaining why we had to act as we did at that particular point.