Putting On the Virtue of Gentleness
December 11, 2022

Gentleness goes hand in hand with humility. St. Vincent returns to this theme again and again. The Spirit of Our Lord, he tells Robert de Sergis,¹ is one of gentleness and humility. In the Common Rule he cites the text from Matthew’s gospel, “Learn from me that I am gentle and humble of heart”(11:29b).² In writing to Monsieur Portail about how to respond to one of the other original members of the Company, François Du Coudray, he encourages him to treat him always with gentleness and humility.³ He assures Sr. Françoise Ménage, in a letter written on February 12, 1659, that she will become truly happy if she practices humility, gentleness, and charity toward the poor and toward her sisters.⁴ The Rule of the Daughters of Charity⁵ also links the two virtues, calling the members of the Company to honor Our Lord particularly in his poverty, his humility, his gentleness, his simplicity, and his sobriety. In fact, for St. Vincent gentleness and humility are so intertwined that, like prudence and simplicity, they are “twin sisters.”⁶

¹CCD I, 536; cf. I, 528.
²CR II, 6.
³CCD III, 7.
⁴CCD VII, 455.
⁵CCD XIII, 555.
⁶CCD XII, 184.

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

Let us pray

Lord, grant that we may treat others always with gentleness and humility.

Scripture

With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue can break bones.

Proverbs 25:15