April's Virtue and Prayer Intention...
Virtue: Love of Neighbour
Patron: St. John
Text: "This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends."
St John 15: 12-14
The teaching of Jesus about the great law of love includes not only love for God but also, in an essential way, love 
for neighbour. (See Mt 22:34-40 and Lk 10:25-28.)
Alphonsus emphasized the reason for this gospel insistence on loving one's neighbour: "Why, there-fore, must we love our neighbour? Because he or she is loved by God! We must love all whom God loves!"
On the practical level, Alphonsus provides two positive considerations for practicing this virtue.
He first encourages the spirit of peace. Though the followers of Jesus Christ, he noted, are from different nations and climes and are of unlike temperament and character, they can live peacefully together,
"for love would induce them to practice mutual forbearance."
Second, Alphonsus stresses almsgiving. This refers to the religious duty to help the poor and needy—not only out of our abundance but even, if necessary, out of what we consider essential for ourselves.
During April, focus on how much God loves you.
In addition, become conscious of your comments about others.
