Blessed are the meek...

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...for they will inherit the land.

I've never given much thought to meekness. Honestly, I have plenty of other virtues to work on, but this morning's meditation, again, spoke to me, especially on this Feast of St. Monica.

Monica's life was set up up for sainthood, that seems certain. Saddled with an immoral, critical husband, and a partying young adult son, she must have prayed herself half blind. The scripture reading in today's morning Magnificat prayers uses Ezekiel 19, "a lioness of mothers." St. Monica must have been a great mother lion, but yet, her passion for her son did not blind her to the virtues required for her to help bring her son, St. Augustine to greatness.

In today's Divine Intimacy, I read about meekness. Most mothers -- including me -- could work on this one, I imagine. We all have some of that mother lion in us, the one that has us seeing red when a cub is threatened. Just the thought of someone hurting a child, even just his feelings, has all nerves on end -- ready to tangle. But meekness is necessary to receive grace.


" The soul, when upset by resentments and anger, is unable to see things in their true light, to form unbiased judgments, to make wise decisions, or to keep words and actions within the limits of courtesy and kindness. A person's manner becomes brusque, unrestrained, and often unjust, provoking displeasure in others; charity is cooled and harmonious relationships are disturbed. Unrestrained anger clouds the mind, preventing it from recognizing God's will, and thus making the soul swerve from the line of duty to follow the impulses of the passions. It is the task of meekness to moderate and calm all such movements of passion by giving the soul mastery of itself, enabling it to remain tranquil, even in difficult or irritating circumstances. "Let us be very meek toward everyone,: exhorts St. Francis de Sales, "and take care that our heart does not escape from our hands; therefore, let us place it every morning in an attitude of humility, meekness, and tranquility. Perfect equanimity, meekness and unalterable graciousness are virtues more rare than perfect chastity and are most desirable."


Our interior soul knows very well that everything that happens to us, however painful, is permitted by God for sanctification; yet in moments of rising anger, this thought vanishes and we no longer see anything but the creature, which has injured us and against which we wish to react. If we wish our life to remain always under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, our actions to be always directed by grace and conformed to God's will, we should never permit ourselves to yield to the impulse of anger, not even under the pretext of good. Rather in these moments we should use our energy to suspend every judgment and every act, striving to establish in our heart the peace necessary to judge things in the light of God.

"O Jesus, meekest Lamb, who being cursed did not curse, who suffering great injuries did not threaten, who receiving the greatest contempt, answered with divine meekness or preserved an admirable silence, help me to follow Your example, to repress my anger, to embrace my meekness, and armed with patience, to suffer willingly any labor so that I may come to enjoy eternal repose with You.

As soon as I notice anger rising within me, I will gather my strength, not impetuously but gently, not violently but sweetly, and I will endeavor to restore peace to my heart. But knowing well that I can do nothing by myself, I will take care to call upon Your aid as the Apostles did when they were harassed by the tempest and buffeted by the angry waters. O Lord, would You allow me to invoke You in vain? Deign to hasten to help me at such times; command my passions to subside, raise Your hand in blessing, and a great calm will follow. Teach me to be meek toward all, with those who offend or oppose me, and even with myself, not becoming angry with myself because of frequent relapses and defects. When I find that I have fallen, in spite of my efforts, I will meekly rise again and say 'Come my poor heart. Behold, we have fallen again into the ditch which so often resolved to avoid. Let us rise now, and leave it forever. Let us have recourse to God's mercy; let us place hopes in it, and it will help us.' Trusting in You, O Lord, I will begin again, and keep to the path of humility and meekness.' St. Francis de Sales


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