Each one, moreover, receives good
according as he loves the common good; for so far as he loves the
common good he loves all and everyone; and as that love is love of
the Lord he is to that extent loved by the Lord, and good comes to
him.
{Footnote 1} Every man and every community, also one's country
and the church and in the universal sense the kingdom of the
Lord, is a neighbor, and to do good to these from love of good
in accordance with their state is to love the neighbor; that
is, the neighbor is the good of these, which is the common good
that must be consulted (n. 6818-6824, 8123). Civil good also,
which is justice, is a neighbor (n. 2915, 4730, 8120-8123).
Therefore charity towards the neighbor extends itself to all
things and each thing of the life of man; and loving good and
doing good from love of good and truth, and also doing what is
just from a love of what is just in every function and in every
work, is loving the neighbor (n. 2417, 8121-8124).
218. From all this it can be seen what the governors there are,
namely, that they are such as are preeminent in love and wisdom, and
therefore desire the good of all, and from wisdom know how to provide
for the realization of that good.
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