Thought for the Day – 11 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month
Humility and Criticism
The spirit of criticism is very dangerous to humility. He who criticises puts himself above the person, or the action, criticised and becomes, the self-constituted judge. He looks down on it and this, even though he gives it his patronising approval. All this is at variance with the spirit of humility. Our attitude to the actions of others should be to try to praise and admire ,as from below, or if we cannot do this, to abstain from speaking if we are able, or to make excuses for those who are obviously at fault.
Unjust and bitter criticism is one of the marks of inveterate pride.
The devil is the accuser of the brethren. Much that he urges against them is true but this is no excuse. Much is false and, in this, those who criticise rashly and uncharitably, are sure to imitate their model. They fall unconsciously into false and rash judgements and, even where they were quite certain that they were correct, they nevertheless, often do serious wrong to those whom they criticise. If they were more humble, they would have a clearer and truer view of the characters and actions, of those around them.
Yet how general is this habit of criticism?
Many who are reputed good Catholics, run down their neighbours with a freedom which shows how little they have imbibed of the spirit of the Church and of her Saints. A Saint is always most gentle in his judgements and words and seeks to imitate his Master, when He said to the poor woman trembling at His feet, “Neither do I condemn thee.”
Ask yourself whether you are free from fault in this respect and promise amendment.
AnaStpaul 