Whether we should love charity out of charity?

❌ Objection 1 : It would seem that charity need not be loved out of charity. For the things to be loved out of charity are contained in the two precepts of charity (Mt. 22:37-39): and neither of them includes charity, since charity is neither God nor our neighbor. Therefore charity need not be loved out of charity.

❌ Objection 2 : Further, charity is founded on the fellowship of happiness, as stated above (Question [23], Article [1]). But charity cannot participate in happiness. Therefore charity need not be loved out of charity.

❌ Objection 3 : Further, charity is a kind of friendship, as stated above (Question [23], Article [1]). But no man can have friendship for charity or for an accident, since such things cannot return love for love, which is essential to friendship, as stated in Ethic. viii. Therefore charity need not be loved out of charity.