St. Alphonsus Liguori on Meekness and Anger (From Dignity and Duties of the Priest) - Part 2

We Must Bear Contempt

Many, says St. Francis of Assisi, place their sanctification in saying many prayers, or in the practice of many corporal mortifications, but afterwards they cannot bear an offensive word. A soul gains more by peacefully bearing an affront than by fasting for ten days on bread and water.

St. Bernarnd says that there are three degrees of advancement, to which a soul that wishes to be a saint, ought to aspire:
1.) The first is not to wish for authority over others
2.) The second, to wish to be subject to all
3.) The third is to bear insults with peace.

Others will be praised...you will be despised. You will be truly humble, says St. Dorotheus, if you accept in peace all these humiliations and recommend them to God.

"In thy humiliation keep patience." (Ecclus 2:4) We must accept insults as due to our sins.

"He is humble," says St. Bernard, "who changes humiliations into humility." Rodriguez says that when reproved the proud imitate the hedgehog, which when touched becomes all thorns; that is, they get into a fury and instantly break out into complaints, reproaches, and detraction. But, on the other hand, the humble, when blamed for their conduct humble themselves still more, confess that they are full of defects, thank the person who corrects them, and preserve tranquility of soul. He who is disturbed by corrections shows that in him pride still reigns.

Being asked what must be done in order to acquire true humility, Zachary, a monk, took his cowl, and trampling on it said, "He who delights in seeing himself treated in this manner, he is truly humble."

God is liberal of his gifts to the humble, as he is sparing to the proud. "God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble." (James 4:6) It is, then, of little importance to us whether we are praised or censured by men; it is enough for us to merit praise from God.

St. John Chrysostom says that there is nothing that gives greater edification to others, and draws souls more powerfully to God, than the meekness of the man who, when treated with derision, contempt and insult, seeks not revenge but bears all with a peaceful and placid countenance.

By the meekness and tranquility with which he bore all the insults heaped upon him by the heretical ministers, St. Francis de Sales converted an immense number of heretics. St. John Chrysostom says that the surest means of knowing whether a soul has virtue is to observe if she practices meekness under contradictions.

What can be expected from a Christian if he is not able to bear contempt for Jesus Christ? It is indeed very painful to our pride to be despised and insulted, without seeking revenge or even making a reply. But in doing violence to ourselves consists our progress in perfection, says St. Jerome.

Oh, how lovingly does Jesus Christ embrace teh soul that is despised! Oh, how soon does he console and enrich her with his graces! The soul that truly loves Jesus Christ not only bears insults in peace, but embraces them with pleasure and joy.

He who wishes to be a saint must at least aspire to this degree of perfection.

The Venerable Louis da Ponte did not at first understand how a man could rejoice in contempt; but when he afterwards attained higher perfection, he easily comprehended it, and experienced joy under insults.

To St. John of the Cross the Redeemer once appeared with a cross on his shoulders and a crown of thorns on his head and said, "John, ask what you desire of me." The saint answered, "O Lord! To suffer and to be despised for Thee."

He who wishes to belong entirely to God, and to assimilate himself to Jesus Christ, must love to be unknown and disregarded. "Love to be unknown and to be regarded as nothing" was the great lesson of St. Bonaventure, which St. Philip Neri constantly inculcated to his spiritual children.

Jesus Christ tells us that the more galling the insults which we accept with joy, the greater teh reward will he give us in heaven. "Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets." (Luke 6:22-23)