Principles and Practices - December 11

WHAT MEEKNESS IS

Consider what this meekness is which is entitled to this beatitude. Meekness is a virtue which restrains all anger and passion, sup­presses the swellings of the heart under real or imaginary provocations or injuries; stills the tumult of the soul on all these occasions; keeps in all heat or violence of words; and allows no other than that truly Christian revenge of overcoming evil with good. Such was the practice of the Lamb of God, both in life and in death, and of whom it was written:

'He shall not contend nor cry out, neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. The bruised reed: He shall not break, the smoking flax He shall not extinguish. He shall not be sad nor troublesome.'

And

'when He was reviled, He did not revile; when He suffered He threatened not, but delivered Himself to him that judged unjustly.'

-Bishop Challoner.

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From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930