It’s Fénelon Friday!
LETTER 21: The Imperfection of Others to Be Born in Love
It has been a long time since I’ve written to you, but let me assure you that I am just as attached to you through our Lord as I ever was. In fact, I am more attached now. And I want with all my heart for you to have that same peace and joy in your home which you enjoyed at the beginning. It should be remembered that even the best of people leave much to be desired, and we must not expect too much. We need to be very patient with the faults of others. The most perfect people in the world have many imperfections, and so do we. And sometimes it is quite difficult for us to tolerate each other. We are to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2), and I think this means, among other things, that we are to bear the burden of each other’s imperfections. Peaceful and harmonious relationships can be helped a great deal if people just learn to be quiet, to be prayerful, and to keep surrendered to the Lord. We must refuse to indulge in criticism and jealous feelings, which make us so hard to live with. We would certainly avoid a lot of trouble if we would just live in this simple way! Happy is the one who pays no attention to his own hasty judgments nor to the gossip of others!
Be content with leading a simple life. Be obedient, and bear your daily cross. You need it, and it is given to you by the mercy of God, for He knows how much you need discipline. You must learn to despise the selfishness of your own heart, and you must also be willing to be despised by others, if God permits it. Learn to draw your strength and nourishment from Jesus, and from Him alone. St. Augustine says that his mother lived on prayer. I would like for you to do the same. Die to everything else. There is no other way to live this Christian life than by a continual death to self.
Francis Fénelon, Let Go (New Kensington, PA: Whittaker House, 1973).
Learning To Be Full Of Grace And Truth. 