WHEN ONE IS SURE IN HIS CONSCIENCE AND FULFILLING ONE’S DUTY, ONE CAN RISE ABOVE ALL THESE CRITICISMS

“Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a gossip.”  (Richard Steele)

Eugene writes to Father Courtès, who had been badly affected by some gossip, to implore him not to be disturbed by it.

A man like yourself should not be disturbed to this degree by gossip, which only deserves contempt. When one is sure in his conscience and fulfilling one’s duty, one can rise above all these murmurings  no matter from where they come.

So. I beg you, consider as not relevant anything that can be said or thought by those men and women whom you certainly do not hold in such regard as to want their approval. I would never have believed such an error of judgment. Everything and anything must be expected from poor humanity. On the other hand, the injustices of man do us good by detaching us from creatures.

Letter to Father Hippolyte Courtès in Aix, 17 August 1845, EO X n 879

Criticism, especially if unjust, is hard to live with – but is inevitable and can be an invitation to detachment and personal growth.

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1 Response to WHEN ONE IS SURE IN HIS CONSCIENCE AND FULFILLING ONE’S DUTY, ONE CAN RISE ABOVE ALL THESE CRITICISMS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:

    This morning I find myself questioning what Eugene is advising Fr. Courtès to do because of how our understanding of words change over time. Only because of the history of the Church in general, only in the light of how elitism and entitlement can muddy our thinking, only in light of us seeing through our own eyes rather than the eyes of our crucified Saviour. Politics can muddy the waters very quickly, and human tendencies born out of fear can blind us to how some of our actions might be life-taking rather than life-giving.

    We ourselves do not have the answers to everything, and our way is not the only way. It seems that if we truly believe in God and the Kingdom of God, then we will be able to rise above the smallness and sinfulness of others, and so not need to waste time and energy in belittling or lessening others. Forgiveness and compassion of ourselves is every bit as important and necessary as it is of others.

    “…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Then will we be able to move forward in the light of God rather than just the light shed from our own small candles.

    I think of the common use of the phrase “Truth and Reconciliation” – only when that is lived within our deepest self that we can then move into the light and live with all others.

    I look at Franks words of “an invitation to detachment and personal growth”. Now I see what he meant, rather than just balking at his words and walking away.

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