e Sales. He once was
heard to say, that he had employed three years in studying it in the
school of Jesus Christ, and that his heart was still far from being
satisfied with the progress he had made. If he, who was meekness itself,
imagined, nevertheless, that he had possessed so little of it; what
shall we say of those, who, upon every trifling occasion, betray the
bitterness of their hearts in angry words and actions of impatience and
outrage? Our saint was often tried in the practice of this virtue,
especially when the hurry of business and the crowds that thronged on
him for relief in their various necessities, scarce allowed him a moment
to breathe. He has left us his thoughts upon this situation, which his
extreme affability rendered very frequent to him. "God," says he, "makes
use of this occasion to try whether our hearts are sufficiently
strengthened to bear every attack. I have myself been sometimes in this
situation: but I have made a covenant with my heart and with my tongue,
in order to confine them within the bounds of duty. I considered those
persons who crowd in one upon the other, as children who run into the
embraces of their father: as the hen refuseth not protection to her
little ones when they gather around her, but, on the contrary, extendeth
her wings so as to cover them all; my heart, I thought, was in like
manner expanded, in proportion as the numbers of these poor people
increased. The most powerful remedy against sudden starts of impatience
is a sweet and amiable silence; however little one speaks, self-love
will have a share in it, and some word will escape that may sour the
heart, and disturb its peace for a considerable time. When nothing is
said, and cheerfulness preserved, the storm subsides, anger and
indiscretion are put to flight, and nothing remains but a joy, pure and
lasting. The person who possesses Christian meekness, is affectionate
and tender towards every one; he is disposed to forgive and excuse the
frailties of others; the goodness of his heart appears in a sweet
affability that influences his words and actions, and presents every
object to his view in the most charitable and pleasing light; he never
admits in his discourse any harsh expression, much less any term that is
haughty or rude. An amiable serenity is always painted on his
countenance, which remarkably distinguishes him from those violent
characters, who, with looks full of fury, know only how to refuse; or
who, when