'The Spirit of Meekness is peculiar to God'

This article is taken from the writings of St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori  (1696-1787),  founder of the  ‘Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer’,  known as the ‘Redemptorists’. It is taken from his book ‘The Holy Eucharist’,  being volume VI of ‘The Ascetical Works’, considering  the ‘Practice of the love of Jesus Christ’, and concentrating in this case on the specific virtue of meekness.



                   Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori CSsR  (1696 -1787)

                             'He that loves Jesus Christ loves meekness'.
The spirit of meekness is peculiar to God:  ‘My spirit is sweet above honey’. Hence it is that a soul that loves God loves also all those whom God loves, namely, her neighbours; so that she eagerly seeks every occasion of helping all, of consoling all, and of making all happy as far as she can.  St Francis de Sales, who was the master and model of holy meekness, says, “Humble meekness is the virtue of virtues, which God has so much recommended to us; therefore we should endeavour to practise it always and in all things.”  Hence the saint gives us this rule:  “What you see can be done with love, do it; and what you see cannot be done without offence, leave it undone.” He means, when it can be omitted without offending God; because an offence of God must always and as quickly as possible, be prevented by him who is bound  to prevent it

This meekness should be particularly observed towards the poor, who by reason of their poverty, are often harshly treated by men.  It should likewise be especially practised towards the sick who are suffering under infirmities, and for the most part meet with small help from others. Meekness is more especially to be observed in our behaviour towards enemies: Overcome evil with good.  Hatred must be overcome by love,  and persecution by meekness; and thus the saints acted, and so they conciliated the affections of their most exasperated enemies.

         

                  St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva


 “There is nothing” says St Francis de Sales, “ that gives so much edification to our neighbour as meekness of behaviour.” The saint, therefore, was generally seen smiling, and with a countenance beaming with charity, which gave a tone to all his words and actions.  This gave occasion to St Vincent de Paul to declare that he never knew a kinder man in his life.  He said further, that it seemed to him that in his lordship of Sales was a true likeness of Jesus Christ.  Even in refusing what he could not in conscience comply with, he did so with such sweetness, that all, though unsuccessful in their requests, went away satisfied and well disposed towards him.  He was gentle towards all, towards Superiors, towards equals and inferiors, at home and abroad; in contrast with some, who, as the saints used to say, “seemed angels abroad, but were devils at home.” Moreover, the saint, in his conduct towards servants, never complained of their remissness; at most he would give them an admonition, but always in the gentlest terms.  And this is a thing most praiseworthy in Superiors.

            The Superior should use all kindness towards those under him.  When telling them what they have to do, he should rather request than command.  St Vincent of Paul said: “A Superior will never find a better means of being readily obeyed than meekness.”  And to the same effect was the saying of St Jane Frances of Chantal: “I have tried various methods of governing, but I have not found any better than that of meekness and forbearance.”

            And more than this, the Superior should be kind even in the correction of faults.  It is one thing to correct with firmness and another with harshness; it is needful at times to correct with firmness, when the fault is serious, and especially if it be repeated after the subject has already been admonished of it; but let us always be on our guard against harsh and angry correction; he that corrects with anger does more harm than good.  This is that bitter zeal reproved by St James. Some make a boast of keeping their family in order by severity, and they say it is the only successful method of treatment; but St James speaks not so: ‘But if you have bitter zeal …… glory not’.  If on some rare  occasion it be necessary to speak a cross word, in order to bring the offender to a proper sense of his fault, yet in the end we ought invariably to leave him with a gentle countenance and a word of kindness.  Wounds must be healed after the fashion of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel, with wine and oil:  “But as oil” said St Francis de Sales, “always swims on the surface of all other liquors, so must meekness prevail over all our actions.”  And when it occurs that the person under correction is agitated, then the reprehension must be deferred till his anger has subsided, or else we should only increase his indignation. The Canon Regular St John said, “When the house is on fire, one must not cast wood into the flames.”

            ‘You know not of what spirit you are’.  Such were the words of Jesus Christ to his disciples James and John, when they would have brought down chastisements on the Samaritans for expelling them from their country.

Ah, said the Lord to them, and what spirit is this? This is not my spirit, which is sweet and gentle; for I am come not to destroy but to save souls: The Son of Man came not to destroy souls, but to save. And would you induce me to destroy them? Oh, hush! And never make the like request to me, for such is not according to my spirit.  And, in fact, with what meekness did Jesus Christ treat the adulteress? ‘Woman,’ said He, ‘hath no man condemned thee? Neither will I condemn thee! Go and now sin no more.’  He was satisfied with merely warning her not to sin again, and sent her away in peace.  With what meekness, again, did He seek the conversion of the Samaritan woman, and so, in fact, converted her.  He first asked her to give Him to drink; then He said to her: ‘If thou didst know who He is that saith to thee, Give me to drink’; and then he revealed to her that he was the expected Messiah.  And, again, with what meekness did he strive to convert the impious Judas, admitting him to eat of the same dish with him, washing his feet and admonishing him in the very act of his betrayal: Judas and dost thou thus betray me with a kiss? Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss?  And see how he converted Peter after his denial of him! ‘And the Lord turning looked on Peter.  On leaving the house of the high priest, without making him a single reproach, he cast on him a look of tenderness, and thus converted him; and so effectually did he convert him, that during his whole life long Peter never ceased to bewail the injury he had done to his Master.

            Oh, how much more is to be gained by meekness than by harshness!  St Francis de Sales said there was nothing more bitter than the bitter almond, but if made into a preserve, it becomes sweet and agreeable: thus corrections, though in their nature very unpleasant, are rendered pleasant by love and meekness, and so are attended with more beneficial results.  St Vincent of Paul said of himself, that in the government of his own congregation he had never corrected anyone with severity, except on three occasions, when he supposed there was reason to do so, but that he regretted it ever afterwards, because he found it turned out badly; whereas he had always admirably succeeded by gentle correction.

            St Francis de Sales obtained from others whatever he wished by his meek behaviour; and by this means he managed to gain the most hardened sinners to God.  It was the same with St Vincent of Paul, who taught his disciples this maxim: “Affability, love, and humility have a wonderful efficacy in winning the hearts of men, and in prevailing on them to undertake things most repugnant to nature.” ……..

        



                                 St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)


  Kindness should be observed towards all on all occasions and at all times.  St Bernard remarks that certain persons are gentle as long as things fall out to their taste; but scarcely do they experience some opposition or contradiction than they are instantly on fire, like Mount Vesuvius itself.  Such as these may be called turning coals, but hidden under the embers.  Whoever would become a saint, must, during this life, resemble the lily among thorns, which, however much it may be pricked by them, never ceases to be a lily; that is, it is always equally sweet and serene.  The soul that loves God maintains an imperturbable peace of heart; and he shows this in her very countenance, being ever mistress of herself, alike in prosperity and adversity, according to the lines of Cardinal Petrucci:

               “Of outward things he views the varying guise,

                    While in his soul’s most inward depth

                Undimmed God’s image lies.”

Whenever it happens that we have to reply to someone who insults us, let us be careful to answer with meekness: a mild answer breaketh wrath. A mild reply is enough to quench every spark of anger. And in case we feel irritated, it is best to keep silence, because then it seems only just to give vent to all that rises to our lips; but when our passion has subsided, we shall see that all our words were full of faults.

            And when it happens that we ourselves commit some fault, we must also practise meekness in our own regard. To be exasperated at ourselves after a fault is not humility, but a subtle pride, as if we were anything else than the weak and miserable things that we are.  St Teresa said: “The humility that disturbs does not come from God, but from the devil”.  To be angry at ourselves after the commission of a fault is a fault worse than the one committed, and will be the occasion of many other faults; it will make us leave off our devotions, prayers, and communions; or if we do practise them, they will be done very badly.  St Aloysius Gonzaga said that we cannot see in troubled waters, and that the devil fishes in them. A soul that is troubled knows little of God and of what it ought to do.  Whenever, therefore, we fall into any fault, we should turn to God with humility and confidence, and craving his forgiveness, say to him with St Catharine of Genoa: O Lord, this is the produce of my own garden! I love Thee with my whole heart, and I repent of the displeasure I have given Thee! I will never do the like again: grant me Thy assistance!”





Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) - Peter Paul Rubens (Wikipedia)

'Mathew Speaks' by Caryll Houselander (1901-1954)

  

 'Frances Caryll Houselander was born in Bath, England, on Sept 29, 1901, the second of two daughters.  She was not expected to survive for more than a day, and was immediately baptized,  given the name ‘Frances’ after her uncle, a gynaecologist who helped deliver her, and ‘Caryll’,  after the yacht on which her mother had spent the last months of her pregnancy!
     She went on to survive her first day, and indeed many more after that, though her health continued to be poor throughout her life.
     When she was 6 years old, a family friend persuaded her mother to have the children baptised in the Catholic faith. Although little formal religious education followed her reception into the Church, her mother encouraged a deep sense of piety and devotion in the home, and Frances, a devout child,  made her first confession and Holy Communion when she was just seven years old.
     Two years later, her world was shattered when her parents  separated. Though they were never  divorced, the separation was to be a permanent one. For the next several years, she changed homes and schools, never fully settling in one place before she was moved to the next.
     Her erratic health led her doctors to advise that she avoid all class work, and,  by the time she returned home in 1917, her formal education was virtually non-existent.  During her years in the convent schools, she experienced three religious visions, which led to a personal and absolute conviction that she had been called by Christ to give recognition to the reality of His loving Presence and Image in all people, particularly the suffering and poor of this world, and to convey the realisation and awareness of this to all those with whom she came into contact, personally and through her writings. Frances had a great affinity with young children, and during her life wrote and illustrated children's books, always revealing a simple delight in the love of God and His creation.
     When the war ended, she attended art school and it was during this period that she drifted from the Catholic Church. She explored the Orthodox Church among others, but found them all wanting, and craving for peace of soul and longing for the Sacraments, she returned to the Catholic Church; she was then twenty-four years old.
     Advised to concentrate on her writing, she  began to write articles and illustrate for the ‘Children’s Messenger of the Sacred Heart’, often on an unpaid basis. Her work ultimately led to her making the acquaintance of the Catholic publishers, Sheed and Ward, who were subsequently to  become the major publishers of her many books.
     Always willing to open her home and her heart to those in need, she was frequently physically and emotionally  overwhelmed by those who sought her advice, yet she remained reluctant to turn people away.
     Msgr. Ronald Knox, a contemporary, and admirer of Houselander, recognized her tremendous gift of insight, and was later to say, "She seemed  to see everything for the first time, and the driest of doctrinal considerations shone out like a restored picture when she had finished with it." 
     Her popularity and success in healing the hurts and the hearts of many can be measured by the support of such eminent physicians as Dr. Strauss, later President of the British Psychological Society, who sent patients to her. His explanation was that "she loved them back to life".
     Her impact, both literary and personal, was due above all, to the intensity of her vision of the suffering Christ, a vision she expressed with utter sincerity and immediacy and, on occasion, with breathtaking luminosity. Indeed, she can best be described not just as a writer, nor even just an artist, but as a mystic and a visionary, even in the tradition of Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, or Teresa of Avila, which would explain how she was able to communicate so directly and movingly to her large reading public, and accounts for her extraordinary success in counselling British and foreign children who had been traumatized by the war.
     Not gregarious by nature, she nevertheless radiated gaiety and a  sense of fun; her wickedly funny tongue often provoking as much hilarity among her intimates as it caused her remorse.
     She was unquestionably a genuine mystic whose frailties were transformed into real strength and whose neuroses became the means whereby she was able to join her sufferings with Christ on the cross. It was as though her burning love of God overflowed for the refreshment of all who came in contact with her.
    "She seemed to possess a well that never ran dry for anyone but herself. She gave of her food to feed the hungry, her time to counsel those in need, her energy to write countless letters, articles and books, and ultimately her health for the health and well-being of others. She spent years attending to the rigorous demands of her ailing parents, and, having been plagued by ill health her entire life, had become accustomed to pain and slow to address her own physical ailments. Her lack of self-concern, however, which extended to everything from her looks, to her diet, her sleep, her health, her living quarters, etc., took its toll."
      During her last years, she worked tirelessly to complete books, write letters, strengthen the works of charity she had begun, and minister to the many mentally ill children who were sent her way'            
      She died on October 12, 1954, from breast cancer. 
"The wonder of Frances Caryll Houselander is found in her humble willingness to suffer with Christ, to let Him transform her flawed and sinful nature into a divine work of art."

Ack.  Karen Lynn Krugh / Catholic Culture.org
Ack.  Margot H. King - currently working on biography for Peregrina Publishers.
Ack.   Robin Maas - Caryll Houselander, an appreciation.
www.ewtn.com/library 

Frances Caryll Houselander
- mystic, poet, artist, writer
         (1901 - 1954)

In 'Mathew Speaks', Caryll Houselander reveals a deep spirituality enveloping a sympathetic and sincere humanity. Through the thoughts and words of  Mathew, the tax collector, she reveals the hopes and aspirations of his Jewish community who hear and see Jesus, probably for the first time, when he visits their township. The expectations of the young and the older people concerning the coming Messiah, are of this world rather than the next. They believe that the Messiah will restore worldly power and glory to the Jewish people, although Mathew knows that this will not be the case. Caryll Houselander, through the mind of Mathew, gently explores the fears and expectations of the ordinary people, gradually introducing the overwhelming concept of Christ's love for all mankind. The concept of 'Christ being in all men' is one which Houselander preached and practised throughout her life. A similar poem by her, 'Philip  Speaks', explores the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, as experienced through the mind of  Philip, who Jesus made responsible for distributing the loaves and fishes to the multitude. This is a most moving poem which I recommend, and I leave a link at the end of this post for those interested.

*******************


Mathew Speaks  

His fame had spread through Syria like flame in

dry grass.

From Galilee and the Decapolis and over Jordan

the people came.

Crowds came out of Judea and out of Jerusalem.

In the hearts of the old men

hope for the race smouldered again:

“Oh, that Messiah were come to set us free!”

In the hearts of the women

hope for the children flickered with faint flame:

“Oh, that Messiah were come to set them free!”

The proud heart of youth blazed, suddenly on fire:

“Oh, for our own glory, in the glory of Messiah!”

I was afraid,

I, the tax collector,

who had sat in the Custom house.

I knew men through and through,

having got my living, as it were,

by other men’s despair.

I knew the humiliated,

I knew the oppressed;

I knew the king,

whom they had crowned already

in their desire:

they had created him

out of their bitterness.

Out of their broken flesh,

out of their hunger and thirst,

out of their chains –

weaponless, they had forged him a sword:

ragged, they had woven for him

purple raiment and cloth of gold for a king:

out of the festering wound,

out of the conqueror’s scorn,

in dreams, the son of the race was born –

Messiah, the Son of Dreams.

I knew it all.

How often I had sat in the market place

and seen the women there, rocking to and fro,

like those who sit by the dead to reap-

rocking, rocking, rocking,

to and fro;

trying to rock the cradled nothingness

in the barren womb

to sleep.

As for the young,

they wanted a leader, whose power

would be in his lust for power,

one whose tongue

would utter their dumb pride

in song,

one in whose heart

their frightened hearts would beat

to the sound of drums.

                                 II

I was afraid

that they would despair

when they saw the Lord.

He was very poor.

He had the chiselled features

of one who denies himself;

His hands

were the large hands

of an artisan –

and without a sword;

His eyes,

the eyes of pity and love;

His speech,

the broad, slow speech

of a countryman.

I was afraid.

But when He began to speak

It seemed to each who heard

that the word was spoken to him alone.

He dawned upon the people;

He did not take them by storm:

soft as the blown thistledown’s sowing,

the seed of the Word was sown.

Each who heard

knew the light growing within him,

like morning,

slowly swelling

and filling the empty sky

before the first song

of the first bird.

I understood,

when He began to teach,

why first

He had given light to blind eyes;

and to deaf ears,

the music of water and wind;

and to hands and feet that were numb,

the touch of the delicate grass and the sun;

and speech to the dumb.

For He spoke of the things

men see and taste and hold:

of salt and rock and light

and the wheat in gold;

of winds and wings and flowers

and the fruit on boughs:

of candle-light in the house.

They heard His voice.

Like the voice of a murmurous  sea

a long way off, washing the shores of peace:

but each knew within him

a soundless music,

a voiceless singing,

saying:

“feel the pulse of My Love

with your fingertips;

prove My tenderness

in the tiny beat

of the heart of the mother bird;

lay your hand on the hard bark of the tree –

know Me

in the rising sap

of the green life

In the dark.

“I have strewn the flowers

under your feet:

see if I love you;

see if My love is sweet!”

There was a thawing then,

like the melting of frost

when winter is done

and the warm sun

kisses the world.

There was a thawing then

in the hearts of the women,

and after the hard frost

of the hard years,

their unshed tears

were flowing.

They understood

how the Lord

takes the lowest least

for His self-bestowing.

They would remember,

when they were baking bread,

how He had said

that His grace

works secretly in them,

like yeast.

When they sifted the ash

and blew the spark of the fire,

they would remember

the Breath of the Spirit

that fans the smoking flax.

He spoke of chastity,

the splendour of love;

of desire,

silver purified

in the heart of the fire;

of thought,

white linen spread

for the marriage feast.

Then –

the men knew,

with a great sighing of joy,

that the dead bough

must fall from the living tree;

the fetid thought,

the furtive word,

the seeping lust,

the cloying grief,

the blight on the green leaf,

the hard fruit

with soft rot at the core,

would be no more,

no more.

But the heart would be born again

to a white maying and morning

and first falling in love.

                                                            III

Christ looked at the people.

He saw them assailed by fear:

He saw the locked door;

He saw the knife in the hand;

He saw the buried coin;

He saw the unworn coat,

consumed by moth;

He saw the stagnant water

drawn and kept in the pitcher,

the musty bread in the bin –

the defended,

the unshared,

the ungiven.

He told them then

of the love

that casts out fear,

of the love that is four walls

and a roof over the head:

of the knife in the sheath,

of the coin in the open hand,

of the coin given

warm with the giver’s life,

of the water poured in the cup,

of the table spread –

the undefended,

the shared,

the given –

the Kingdom of Heaven.

Christ looked at the people.

He saw the hard years

graven upon their faces;

He saw the old clothes,

worn to the shape of their work;

He saw their unshed tears;

He saw the labourer’s hands,

hollowed out by the tools

as his own were hollowed out

by the mallet to cup the nail.

He saw the crust of the will,

like the hard crust of rye;

He saw flesh and blood,

the sacramentals of love;

He saw the image of God,

the crystal in the rock.

He lifted

His large and beautiful hands

to bless.

                                                             Caryll Houselander

E saw2 the hard years graven upon their faces:

Ack.  'The Book of the Saviour'

an anthology published by Sheed and Ward

London and New York 1952

************

N.B.    link to 'Philip Speaks'

"Philip Speaks" by Caryll Houselander

'The Children of God for Life' - unique weapon in the pro-life armoury!

     Saints Cosmas and Damian - Patron Saints of  Pharmacists          and Physicians.  (Source:- Bibliotheque nationale de France)

                                                  ********

Some eight years ago there was considerable public outcry about an American  company,  Senomyx, who were processing  fetal cell line products in the manufacture of artificial tasting  processes ,  which were then being utilised by major food production companies such as Nestles , Cadburys,  Kraft, and others in their own manufacturing processes.  As a result of the worldwide adverse publicity, most if not all of these companies have ceased this business with Senomyx , although regrettably some pharmaceutical companies were, and still are, prepared to allow fetal cell line processes to be used in the manufacture of their products. I recently had cause to visit the website of  'Children of  God for Life’, which is a unique pro-life Christian organisation founded specifically to  review  the ethical procedures in the manufacturing processes and products of the food,  pharmaceutical  and drug industry, in particular identifying those companies and their products in which fetal cell line processes have been used. Their records have been updated within the past few months, and as well as publicising  those companies and products utilising fetal cell processes ,  they  admirably  show  alternative products which are  morally and ethically acceptable.

‘The Children of God for Life’ is not to be confused with the religious cult organisation ‘The Children of God.’ The former has been in existence for  many  years, and is a highly professional and respected Christian organisation whose sole purpose is to identify those   companies  utilising fetal cells from aborted babies in the manufacture of their products, and to publicise their findings. ‘The Children of God for Life’ has the support of the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations, and all who support the pro-life agenda.  The religious cult ‘The Children of God’, has a nefarious history, to say the least, and has absolutely no connection in any way with ‘The Children of God for Life’. It is important to be aware of this, for if you Google ‘The Children of God for Life’, both this and the cult organisation come up on the same page, which can be confusing.

Whilst the companies listed by ‘The Children of God for Life’ are based in Canada and the USA, the manufactured products are found world-wide. The latest lists are available on the website of ‘The Children of God for Life’ and I attach the links below. There is no doubt that this pro-life work is of the highest importance. In the years that this organisation has been in existence, there have been major successes in the battle against the use of fetal cells in certain manufacturing   processes. The company  deserves  as much support as possible, the stakes are high, and the adversaries  powerful , wealthy, and diabolically orientated. To all intents and purposes it is a classic David v Goliath scenario, except of course that Almighty God is in David’s corner.

 There are three links below:-                                                                               

  1.          https://cogforlife.org/     -       ‘Children of God for Life’ website – home.   

   2..           https://cogforlife.org/wpcontent/uploads/vaccineListOrigFormat.pdf    -         USA  and Canada,  aborted  fetal cell line products and ethical alternatives (Feb. 2019)

   3.          https://cogforlife.org/wpcontent/uploads/fetalproductsall.pdf  -       USA aborted fetal products – updated December 2018

                                                                                        

I strongly recommend your support for this company. When you visit their website you will find much that is informative, interesting, and spiritually encouraging. Thank you ‘Children of God for Life’ for all your work for the Christian pro-life cause.  May God bless you all.   

                                                              ****************

'One of the most effective means of having our faults forgiven by the Lord God, is the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass'    

Saint Padre Pio.