Benefactor and beneficence

Use in the book

God's identity as benefactor makes the soul's unlimited asking intelligible: the giver delights to give. The human response is not meant to remain attachment to the gift alone. Once self-love is satisfied, attention can turn toward the benefactor and overflow into love of others for His sake. This provides a route from reception to generosity rather than condemning reception as necessarily selfish. IV.88 guards the giver's intention against judgment solely by outcome. A frustrated benefit still imposes an obligation of gratitude where the kindness was genuinely intended. The standard applies first to human friendship and then to God, whose gifts may be obstructed by human perverseness.

Places to read

1. I.22The benefactor’s readiness to give answers the insatiable soul’s asking.
2. IV.55Satisfied self-love turns toward the benefactor and becomes love of others.
3. IV.88An intended benefit deserves gratitude even when its success is prevented.

In this edition

“Beneficence” is the explanatory name for the activity treated under the attested “benefactor.” “Benefit” and “benefactor” should not be collapsed: the latter directs attention to agency and intention.