BENIGNITÀ. — This is that disposition of soul by which one is glad and takes pleasure in doing good to others. While distinguishing it from goodness, St. Jerome defines its characteristics: “Kindness is a gentle, amiable, tranquil virtue, sweet in speech and affable in manner; a happy combination of all qualities. Goodness is very close to it, because it too seeks to give pleasure; but it differs from it in being less attractive and more severe in appearance; it too is ready to do good and render services, but without that cheerfulness, that gentleness which wins hearts”
(In epist. ad Galat., 5, 22). Kindness as a whole implies a sense of exquisite liberality, amiable welcome, helpful and generous condescension, whereby one willingly and ever more spontaneously bends toward one’s neighbor who asks for and needs any kind of assistance.
Kindness is a special attribute of God; for he provides for the needs of his creatures, forgives their faults, embraces his prodigal children anew whenever they return to the father’s house, which they had wrongly abandoned, and assists them in obedience and in the observance of his precepts (cf., for example, Mt. 6, 24; 34; Lc. 15, 11 ff.; Mt. 7, 7-12).
St. Paul, moreover, conceives the entire plan of Redemption as dependent upon the divine kindness of the Father; Jesus is the expression and executor of this kindness, because while lavishing his merciful goodness upon us, he also offers us the active and effective means to supernatural good (Tit. 3, 4). Consequently, the apostles too, ambassadors of Jesus and bearers of the message of salvation to humanity, will regard themselves as marked by this virtue, as must every Christian who wishes fully to conform himself to the divine Master and exemplar. Christian kindness, however, which is a moral virtue, lies in the mean; it therefore avoids easygoing indulgence, weakness, and affectation.