Sixth Day of the Novena. Meekness of the Heart of Jesus

1st Prel. Behold Jesus Christ showing us His Heart, and saying "Learn of Me, because I am meek." (St. Matt. 11: 29.)

2d Prel. Ask for grace to understand, esteem, and love meekness POINT I MEEKNESS OF THE HEART OF JESUS MANIFESTED IN HIS WHOLE PERSON CONSIDERATION.— Of all qualities, meekness is the most universally loved and appreciated. A gentle, kind-hearted man is no sooner known than loved. Every one feels drawn to him, and desires his friendship. What a marvelous attraction, then, must the sweet Heart of Jesus have for men! We read in the holy Gospels that as many as four thousand followed Him once for three days without having any food, so great was the charm which His gentleness and meekness shed around Him.

APPLICATION.— Do we desire to know if our meekness at all resembles that of our Divine Master? Let us judge it by its fruits. Have we the sympathy and confidence of our brethren? do they seek our company gladly, especially in times of trouble, or do they keep aloof from us, from fear of being annoyed and contradicted?

AFFECTIONS.— O most meek Heart of Jesus! teach me to be meek and humble of heart, after Thy example.

RESOLUTIONS.— To combat vigorously any inclination to hardness of heart or obstinacy of temper of which we may be conscious.

POINT II THE MEEKNESS OF HIS WORDS

CONSIDERATION.— Every page of the holy Gospels bears witness to this. What could be more sweet than these words? "I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd giveth His life for His sheep." (St. John 10: 11.) Or again, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem! . . . how often would I have gathered thy children as the bird doth her brood under her wings; and thou wouldst not." (St. Luke 13: 34.) And again, the words He addressed to the traitor Judas in the very act of consummating his crime: "Friend, whereto art thou come? . . . Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" (St. Matt. 26: 50; St. Luke 22: 48.) What meekness, above all, in the prayer which He made on the cross for His executioners: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (St. Luke 23: 34.)

APPLICATION.— If it be true that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, must we not conclude that our hearts are still far from being like that of our Divine Saviour? We are so harsh in our judgments of others; so ready to exaggerate their faults, to reprove them, to publish them. Jesus answers with such meekness when unjustly accused, and we break out into sharp words when told of our real faults. Jesus finds an excuse for His executioners, and we are angry if we only imagine that some one desires to do us an injury.

AFFECTIONS.— Acknowledge and regret that you have derived so little profit from the instructions of your Divine Master, who continually repeats to us, "Learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart."

RESOLUTIONS.— I will devote particular attention, during this day, to my words, and to the affections of my heart.

POINT III THE MEEKNESS OF HIS ACTIONS

CONSIDERATION.— How severely was the meekness of Jesus tried! During the whole course of His life He was exposed to the hatred, calumnies, and insults of the doctors and rulers of the Jews. They even told Him to His face, before all the people, that He was possessed with a devil, and worked miracles by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. And yet His meekness never failed; it remained unchanged to the very last. He may indeed justly say to us, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and humble of heart."

APPLICATION.— It is easy enough to be gentle and patient when all goes well with us, and every one is kind and considerate to us; there is no merit in it under such circumstances. But to be really "meek and humble of heart" is to be able to bear wrongs patiently, and to render good for evil, after the example of Jesus Christ. Let us strive earnestly to do this, that so the words of our Blessed Lord may be applied to us, "Beati mites; quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram." "Blessed are the meek; for they shall possess the land." (St. Matt. 5: 4.)

COLLOQUY with Saint Francis of Sales, so remarkable for his constant meekness, meekness the more meritorious as he was naturally of a hasty and irritable temper.