Meditation for July 9, Consideration

To walk quietly near a sick room or near someone who is resting; to turn a kindly face to those who disturb us, making us lose our precious time; to answer pleasantly those who ask us ridiculous and pointless questions; to silence our fears, in order not to upset those around us; to avoid a joke however to the point, because it might not be well received; to impose neither labor nor worry nor annoyance on anyone unless absolute necessity makes it unavoid­able; these are all marks of a very simple virtue but they give evidence of real charity.

When the selfish individual thinks of himself, the soul anxious never to impose any useless trouble on his neighbor thinks of others.

It is not a very dazzling virtue; it manifests itself only in little things done or omitted; it does not heal wounds, risk its life, nor even manifest exceptional zeal; but a virtue that is not very brilliant can still be very profound. That is often the case.

Little things are frequently more painful than greater things. More generosity is sometimes required to avoid saddening or incon­veniencing another than to offer him remarkable comfort. Before a deep sorrow of a neighbor one is easily moved. But one needs a soul rich in true and strong sensibility to spare him a thousand insignificant sufferings.

"My God, teach me the divine science of consideration. Leon Harmel used to say that it was the key to the whole social problem; it is, in any case, one of the keys to the great problem of charity in religious communities."

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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)