Life of St John Vianney.pdf - the Catholic Kingdom!

""The"The"Our292 THE Cim OF ARS.worn brow, and eyes which seem ready to devour all whocome near them.There are some people who, under an exterior ofpiety, take offence at the slightestinsult or the leastcalumny. Though we were so holy as to work miracles,yet if wo have not charity, we shall never enter Heaven.A certain religious,who had never performed greatausterities, enjoyed great tranquillity at the point of death.His Superior expressed surprise at his composure. Thereligious replied, I have always pardonedall the injuries which have been inflicted on me with allmy heart.I hope, therefore, that the good God will pardon me.way to overcome the devil, when he excitesfeelings of hatred against those who injure us, is immediately to pray for their conversion.devil leaves bad Christians very quiet he;troubles not himself about them ;but he stirsup calumnies and persecutions without end against those who aredoing good, and thus furnishes them matter for greatmerit. This is the way to overcome evil with good ; andthis is the wayto be Saints. But these mere outsideChristians will endure nothing:every thing chafes them ;they answer sharp words by sharp words. When fairlyunloosed, they give full vent to their hatred. Theirheart is like a reservoir full of gall,which they arealways ready to disgorge upon those who happen to benearest to them.self-love makes us believe that we deservenothing but praise ; whereas we ought to acknowledgethat we deserve nothing but insult. But I am innocent, you will say ; I do not deserve to be treated inthis way. You do not deserve itperhaps for what youhave done to-day, but you deserve it for what you did