As an example of the true zeal we have the Apostle of the Indies, the Patron of Catholic Missions, Saint Francis Xavier. Born of a noble family of Navarre, a descendant of kings, he was brought up for a career of earthly power and glory. But he met Saint Ignatius, and decided to become a soldier for Christ. Inflamed with zeal, wishing only to reap rich harvests for God, he went through India, Malaya, and Japan planting the seed of the Faith, converting innumerable heathen to Christ. In Japan so fruitful was his apostolate that a generation after him the Christian population still totaled 400,000 souls. He is Protector of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

    Meekness is that moral virtue which disposes us to control anger when offended, and resentment when rebuked. Meekness, however must be distinguished from pusillanimity, which is weakness of spirit, and cowardliness.

    Meekness is patience between man and man. It is related to the cardinal virtue of temperance, and is opposed to the sin of anger. The patient man keeps calm in the midst of the vicissitudes of life; he preserves his cheerfulness for the love of God.

    The motive is important. If we are calm and patient only because we hope to be admired or because we thereby wish to avoid temporal trouble, by indifference, then we do not practice virtue. Virtue is the result of love for God, doing things for His sake, because it is His law or desire. "By your patience you will win your souls" (Luke 21:19).

    We must endure with serenity all trials, not merely a part of them, in order to be truly patient. For instance, some are patient with sickness, but keep lamenting their being a burden to others on its account. Some are patient with others, but have no patience with themselves: for example, they feel irritated if they fall back into old sins. Such persons are not truly patient and meek; they show traces of pride, believing themselves too good to relapse into old sins. "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:21).

    The patient and meek man shows no anger when wrong is done him. He is a peacemaker at heart. However, although we should forgive and forget wrongs for the sake of peace, we must not give in to sin just to avoid opposing others; this would be sinful. Let us keep the peace with all when there is no good reason to break it; this should be our policy.

    Our Lord is the best example of meekness and patience. Did He use His almighty power to punish those who did Him evil? For hours He hung meekly on the cross, until He died. Every day God is patient with sinners, giving them time to change their ways.

    The meek man is master of his own self; he has self-control, and will find it easy to control others. He has peace of mind, and will attain heaven, the home of the meek of heart.

    Let us gaze at Jesus Crucified; He is the supreme example of meekness, the Lamb of God: "And I was as a meek lamb, that is carried to be a victim" (Jeremiah 11:19). Indeed, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth" (Matthew 5:4) - the land of the hearts of their fellowmen. As St. Francis de Sales practically said, "One catches more flies with an ounce of honey than with tons of vinegar."

Monday: Moral Virtues part six

June 23-25, 2000
volume 11, no. 112
APPRECIATION OF THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF OUR FAITH series

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