The Enchiridion 77
77 If We Would Give Alms to Ourselves, We Must Flee Iniquity; For He Who Loveth Iniquity Hateth His Soul PL 40, 268
Those, then, who think that they can by giving alms, however profuse, whether in money or in kind, purchase for themselves the privilege of persisting with impunity in their monstrous crimes and hideous vices, need not thus deceive themselves. For not only do they commit these sins, but they love them so much that they would like to go on forever committing them, if only they could do so with impunity. Now, he who loveth iniquity hateth his own soul; and he who hateth his own soul is not merciful but cruel towards it. For in loving it according to the world, he hateth it according to God. But if he desired to give alms to it which should make all things clean unto him, he would hate it according to the world, and love it according to God. Now no one gives alms unless he receive what he gives from one who is not in want of it. Therefore it is said, “His mercy shall meet me.”
Iniquitas deserenda, ut prosint eleemosynae. Non ergo se fallant, qui per eleemosynas quaslibet largissimas fructuum suorum vel cujuscumque pecuniae, impunitatem se emere existimant in facinorum immanitate ac flagitiorum nequitia permanendi: non solum enim haec faciunt, sed ita diligunt, ut in eis semper optent, tantum si possint impune, versari. Qui autem diligit iniquitatem, odit animam suam ; et qui odit animam suam, non est in eam misericors, sed crudelis: diligendo eam quippe secundum saeculum, odit eam secundum Deum. Si ergo vellet ei dare eleemosynam, per quam illi essent munda omnia, odisset eam secundum saeculum, et diligeret secundum Deum. Nemo autem dat eleemosynam qualemlibet, nisi unde det ab illo accipiat qui non eget: ideo dictum est, Misericordia ejus praeveniet me .