Untitled - Saints' Books

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INSTR. vii.] Meekness. 329
give way to disquietude, and in this state of agitation
they commit a thousand faults. In troubled water,
says St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the devil always finds fish
to catch. It is necessary, then, when we perceive that
we have fallen into a defect, not to be disturbed (to give
way to disquietude after a fault is the effect of our own
pride, and of the high opinion we had of our own vir
tue), but to humble ourselves peacefully, to detest the
sin, and instantly to have recourse to God, hoping to
receive from him help to avoid a relapse.
In a word, they who are truly humble and meek live
always in peace, and in every occurrence preserve tran
quillity of soul. Learn of Me, says Jesus Christ, because
I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest to
your souls. And 1 before him, David said: The meek shall
inherit the land, and shall delight in abundance of peace?
"Nothing is able to disturb their serenity," says St.
Leo. No insult, no loss, no misfortune, disturbs the
peace of a meek heart.
Should we feel angry on any occasion, we must en
deavor (according to the advice of the holy bishop of
Geneva) to repress passion without waiting to examine
whether it is right or not to subdue it. And after a
dispute, which may perhaps have disturbed our peace,
let us observe the advice of the Apostle: Let not the sun
go down upon your anger. Give not place to the devil? Let
us first put our soul in peace, and then be reconciled
to the person by whom we have been offended, lest
through that spark the devil should kindle in our souls
a deadly flame that may cause our ruin.
Discite a me quia mitis sum et humilis corde, et invenietis re
2 "
quiem animabus vestris." Matth. xi. 2g.
Mansueti autem hereditabunt terram, et delectabuntur in multitudine
pads." Ps. xxxvi. u.
3
3
Nihil "
asperum De mitibus." Epiph. s. 5.
4 "Sol non occidat super iracundiam vestram; nolite locum dare
diabolo." Efihes^ iv. 26.