Summary of the Morrow’s Meditation
We will meditate to-morrow on the fourth degree of humility, which consists in delighting to be treated without consideration, even with contempt, when Providence permits that we should be so treated; and we shall see: 1st, that Jesus Christ preaches this doctrine by His example; 2d, that the principles of faith confirm it to us. We will then make the resolution: 1st, to bear, silently and without bitterness, want of consideration, rejection, and even contempt; 2d, courageously to fight against all temptations to susceptibility and claims to attention, and often to ask God for grace not to descend to such littleness. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the eighth beatitude: "Blessed are ye when they shall revile you and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for My sake" (Matt. v. 11).
Meditation for the Morning
Let us adore the Infant Jesus treated as the last of men, relegated to a stable the first day of His entrance into the world; later on persecuted and put to flight; during the whole of His life and at His death maltreated by those even to whom He had done nothing but good; and since His death, what irreverence has He not had to submit to in the Eucharist! O my Jesus, how Thou art treated in even the very sacrament of Thy love! Let us render Him our most humble homage in His profound abasement.
FIRST POINT
Jesus Teaches us by His Example to Love to be Treated without Consideration and with Contempt when Providence Permits that we should be so Treated.
One of the most remarkable features of the Gospel is the fact of Our Saviour flying from glory, desiring contempt in the same manner that others desire honor and celebrity (Ps. lxviii. 21). In His early childhood, with the exception of the shepherds and the Magi, Mary and Joseph, He is treated without any consideration as the most ordinary of children. When He grows bigger He is treated like a poor apprentice who is not yet acquainted with his trade, as ignorant alike of human and divine studies (John vii. 15). Now, who are we that we should desire to be better treated than God? If we look upon ourselves as Christians, our glory is to resemble Jesus Christ, to live in His spirit, and with His life, to love what He loved, to hate what He hated. If we look upon ourselves as men, we ought to think it well that justice should be rendered to us; now, being nothing except nothingness and sin, we have no right to anything but rejection and contempt. If we consider ourselves as pilgrims passing through this life, we ought not to attach any importance to the opinion of men who will soon no longer exist, and besides which whose approbation and blame are of no consequence to us; for if they criticise and despise us, we are not worth less on that account; if they esteem and praise us, neither on that account are we worth any more. This, even, is not saying enough; if they despise us, it is a precious opportunity for us to exercise humility; whilst if they praise us, we run a great danger of being proud. Hence it was that the saints rejoiced over the imperfections or involuntary faults into which they fell, as being occasions of great gain for their humility, and they feared praise as a trial where they were afraid that pride would cause them to make shipwreck, according to the words of the sage (Prov. xxviii. 21).
SECOND POINT
The Principles of Faith Teach us that we must Delight to be Treated without Consideration and even with Contempt when Providence Permits us to be so Treated.
1st. Providence has thus regulated all things: if we seek glory in this world, we shall have confusion in the next; and if, from love to Our Lord, we accept with a good grace contempt and want of consideration here below, we shall have an abundant share of glory in heaven (Rom. viii. 17). What is more decisive than this reasoning? 2d. It will be with difficulty that we shall find a virtue which will be in harmony with a contrary disposition, or at least which will not clash with it exceedingly. Should it be faith? but one of its first lessons is, that man considered in his essence is naught but nothingness and sin, and deserves nothing but contempt. Should it be religion? but it desires that all should be annihilated before God, that God alone may be great. Should it be the love of God? but love delights to render honor and glory to God alone, and to keep nothing for itself but confusion. Should it be the love of our neighbor? but love disappears if we do not know how to bear wrongs done to us, want of consideration, even calumnies and injuries; and this endurance presupposes that we willingly consent to be treated without consideration. Should it be gentleness? but the least want of consideration will change its nature; and susceptibility, with its evil temper, will take the place of it. Should it be patience? but a sweet tranquillity in the midst of contempt is impossible to him who does not like to be treated with a want of consideration. Lastly, should it be penitence? but where there is penitence there is contempt of oneself and the deep sentiment that we deserve the contempt of others. Yet we are so susceptible, so ready to be angry at the least want of consideration. Let us confess our faults and correct them.
Resolutions and spiritual nosegay as above.