Virtue of Meekness – Nineteenth Day of May

Meekness

Learn of Me that I am meek and humble of heart. St. Matt. 11:29.

NINETEENTH DAY.

The highest degree of meekness consists in serving, honoring, and treating kindly those who are our inferiors and who treat us with ingratitude and insolence. — St. Francis of Sales.

What did not St. Jane Frances do during the seven years that she lived with her father-in-law to gain the heart of a servant who was insolent and who treated her with continual contempt! She endeavored to please her in all she could imagine that would be agreeable to her. On seeing the Baroness de Chantal thus humble herself to one who became more impertinent the more that she received kindness, someone remarked: “You but lose your time if you think to win her by such treatment.” The saint replied: “That might be if I thought of her alone; but what is done for God cannot be lost, and in proportion that men are ungrateful God is more liberal.” “When your father-in-law dies, you will no doubt free yourself from such a wicked creature,” someone remarked. “No, I will arm myself then to defend her,” she said. “God makes use of her to give me a cross; why should I do her harm?” It was also said to her that she and not this servant should have the government of the house. “God has regulated it thus for my benefit,” she replied, “so that I have more time to give to my exercises of piety.”

Prayer.

Lord, give me such charity that I may love those in a special manner who injure me, despise me, and return ingratitude for benefits. I would show them love, to return thanks for Thy love of me notwithstanding my ingratitude.

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