St. Francis de Sales presenting a book to three nuns

Meekness – Seventeenth Day of May

Meekness

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

SEVENTEENTH DAY.

Let us endeavor to be charitable, meek, and humble with all, but in a particular manner with those whom God has given us as companions and with our domestics. Be not of the number of those who away from their homes appear to be angels, but in their own houses are demons.

Monseigneur Camus, Bishop of Belley, said of the Bishop of Geneva, St. Francis of Sales, that there never was a master who treated his servants better or who was more tenderly loved by them; he never said a word to them that could wound them. In giving his orders it was like asking a favor. In his manner of saluting them he showed that he loved them. He never complained of them, and was afraid to overwork them. If he was obliged to reprove them, it was done without anger. He was one evening entertaining a marquis. The conversation lasted long, and it became dark. His servants forgot to bring lights. When the marquis after a time arose to leave, the saint conducted him by the hand through the gallery, then through the hall to the door, where he found his servants conversing with those of the marquis. The only reproach he made them was: “With a candle we could have better done the honors to our guest.”

Prayer.

My God, grant that for love of Thee I may show those who depend on me that I love them as myself. Grant that I may not overwork them; that I may never rebuke them haughtily nor in ill-humor; and that when I correct them, the correction be seasoned with sweetness.

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