THERE IS NO VIRTUE IN SAYING ALL THAT ONE THINKS

Posted on September 25, 2023 by franksantucci

Father Telmon was a gifted person with an amazing missionary zeal and loads of energy – but, was also impetuous and didn’t always think before he spoke. At times this led to people being offended.

Father Telmon must moderate his character. He is forty, has much talent and zeal. Could he possibly spoil so many good qualities by lack of restraint? Let him convince himself once for all that there is no virtue in saying all that one thinks. There are things better left unsaid even though one would believe oneself a hundred times right. There are so many ways of winning people over. One must never fly off the handle. All is over when wounds have been inflicted. I heard that he alienated the Coadjutor Bishop by a letter he wrote to him.

Letter to Fr Eugene Guigues in Canada, 20 July 1847, EO I n 86

REFLECTION

“Great talents are the most lovely and often the most dangerous fruits on the tree of humanity. They hang upon the most slender twigs that are easily snapped off.”   Carl Jung

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1 Response to THERE IS NO VIRTUE IN SAYING ALL THAT ONE THINKS

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Lay Oblate says:
    September 25, 2023 at 11:59

    Some years ago before retiring, I was having difficulties with a particular colleague, and it was pointed out to me that I was reacting rather than responding. I created a desktop image with a photo I had taken of the mountains meeting the waters of the B.C. coastline and large text which read “Response rather than Reaction”.

    I was sharply reminded of it after being verbally attacked by a person I knew well. I realized that I needed to respond rather than react until I was able to stand up and put some distance between myself and the person who was enraged. I needed to use love and understanding to at least keep me safe.

    I also knew that I had the right to be safe and respected as a person, as a member of the Body of Christ. Sadly I began to wonder if the person in front of me who was my friend was having some sort of a breakdown.

    It was my pastor who reminded me of how when he looked across the church from his seat he was greeted by the stations of the cross, of Jesus hanging on the cross before letting go and dying. I sat across from our pastor looking at the station where Jesus picks up his cross. Jesus did not fight or condemn, he simply responded out of love, knowing somehow what was ahead of him.

    We are reminded, I am reminded to see through the eyes of our crucified Saviour…

    Reply

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