Thought for the Day – 8 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Uncharitableness
“The tendency to complain about others, is a most insidious cancer which can corrode all that is good in our conversation, making it harmful and even gravely sinful.
Grumbling is always, more or less sinful, according to the circumstances.
It may be a sin against charity, which demands that we love our neighbour as ourselves and help him as much as possible, by word and by deed.
It may be a sin of scandal because the person to whom we are complaining maybe provoked to throw stones in his turn at the subject of our detraction.
It maybe a sin of theft because it takes away the reputation of the person whom we are criticising.
This could carry with it, the obligation to make restitution by withdrawing what we have said, if it is false or doubtful or by speaking charitably of the person whom we have wronged in order to restore his good name.
Uncharitableness in speech, is also a sin of injustice, when it involves calumny, in which case, there is an obligation to repair the damage done in the best way possible.
Since criticism of others can be such an evil thing, we should take care not to form the habit of employing it as a means of making our conversation more lively and acceptable.
The life of a Catholic, should be governed by charity and grumbling about others, is always an offence against charity!”
Antonio Cardinal Bacci
PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/07/thought-for-the-day-7-july-uncharitableness/
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