It is urgent, now as ever, that Catholics pray diligently and assiduously (says Our Lady of Fatima to the children) to not only survive, but to beg God to communicate an exponential increase of all the virtues and gifts. And what forgotten virtue is necessary to overcome the temptation to uncontrollable anger? Meekness!
Meekness allows the soul to curb inordinate anger so that the flower of charity may shine. In order to keep the Faith in these most perilous of times, we need to stay close to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross. Mary had power to ask God to come and annihilate the blasphemers at the foot of the Cross, but she allowed herself to be pierced by swords, and she prayed for her enemies instead.
Jesus made known what the Immaculate Heart of Mary was contemplating when He said, “Father Forgive them for they know not what they do.” Meekness allowed them in the time of their greatest virtue to pray for their enemies. The lesson is all the more important today.
So, how can one practice meekness?
1. Through Silence
When one is insulted, sometimes the best response is silence. It is the ultimate response to a verbal attacker because it says without words, “You can’t make me feel insulted. You tried. Nobody has the power to demean me because my Creator Jesus Christ is dwelling in me, and I am a walking tabernacle of the presence of God. If I die with God present in me, I will go to heaven. So you have no right to demean a walking tabernacle destined to share in the nature of God above the angels in heaven. Jesus my savior wants to deify me. He also wants me to pray so that you stop trying to hurt and demean me and soon realize your high calling to be an adopted son of God the Father.”
2. By Welcoming Insults
Another way of practicing meekness is to welcome insults. One who lives as a Catholic should expect to receive criticism from the world because the world has rejected Jesus. We can transform criticisms into compliments because Jesus endured more calumny than anyone else. Meekness can transform us into Jesus.
3. By Removing Ourselves from the Situation
Another way is to leave the scene. While living in the convent, St. Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face dearly wanted to see her sick sister. Her plan was to give the keys to the nun who stood by her bed. But when she approached, the nun stood in her way and a commotion arose, waking Mother Agnes. The bedside nun scolded Therese, so she fled the scene and sat on the stairs with heavy breath and spoke to Jesus in her heart of one of the greatest victories of meekness in her life. Her little way was meek.
The Riches of Meekness
Meekness is one of the most beautiful flowers because it makes charity hidden in the soul come to the surface. It can be seen by a peaceful face.
Meekness helps us to grow in all the other virtues. Souls cannot hear the inspirations of God on their heart if they are prone to inordinate anger.
Meekness helps us to stay in the presence of God. If souls are always upset, they cannot see things in their true light. Meekness can keep our calm so that we can be at peace and thus receive the communication of all the virtues. It gives the soul the silence necessary to be wise and see things as God sees them. Thus all our trials can be viewed as means to grow in virtue.
Whosoever wishes to live devoutly in Christ Jesus is destined to suffer persecutions. (2 Tim. 3:12)
May all good Catholics look toward this time as an opportunity to grow exponentially in all the virtues, especially meekness!
Author’s Note: If you enjoyed this article, consider reading The Forgotten Virtue: Why Meekness May be the Secret Weapon in the Spiritual Life. In it, you will learn more about what meekness is, the five degrees of meekness, and five ways to practice devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, whose serene face drew the apostles and disciples to form the Catholic Church.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
