Putting On the Virtue of Gentleness
December 8, 2022

Gentleness involves joyfulness and peacefulness. St. Vincent tells the Daughters of Charity that when someone has joy in her heart she cannot hide it. People will see it on her face. They will be grateful to God for having met her.¹ Here, the key French word in St. Vincent’s writings is “gai”. Since St. Louise was a rather serious type, St. Vincent often urged her to be gaie. As she sets out on a journey in 1631, he encourages her: “Honor the tranquility of His soul and that of His Holy Mother and be very gaie on your trip, since you have good reason to be so in the work in which Our Lord is employing you.”² On another occasion, as she was about to travel with the more ebullient Madame Goussault, he writes: “Please be very cheerful with her, even though you should have to lessen a bit that somewhat serious disposition which nature has bestowed on you and which grace is tempering by the mercy of God.”³ He often recommends that she seek the peace of mind and heart that characterized the Blessed Mother and Our Lord.⁴

¹CCD X, 487.
²CCD I, 102.
³CCD I, 502.
⁴CCD I, 111, 114, 571.

Source: Fr. Robert P. Maloney, C.M. A Further Look at “Gentleness”

Let us pray

Lord, grant me that joy in my heart that I cannot hide.

Scripture

…rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.

1 Peter 3:4