Tuesday, July 4 : Dorotheus of Gaza

Remembrance of evil or rancor is one thing, loss of temper or rage another, annoyance another, and disturbance of mind yet another. I will give you an example so that you understand this clearly. Someone who is lighting a fire sets a spark to the tinder; this is some brother’s provoking remark, this is the point where the fire starts. Of what consequence is that brother’s remark? If you put up with it, the spark goes out; but if you go on thinking, “Why did he say that to me and what do I have to say to him?” (…) So you add a small bit of wood to the flame, or some bit of fuel, and you produce some smoke, that is a disturbance of mind. (…) If, therefore, you put up with a sharp retort from your brother, the little firebrand is extinguished, as I said, before it causes you any trouble. Even if you are a little troubled and you desire promptly to get rid of it, since it is still small, you can do so by remaining silent with a prayer on your lips and by one good, heartfelt act of humility. But if you dwell on it and inflame your heart and torment yourself with thoughts about why he said this to me, and what do I have to say to him, you are blowing on the embers and adding fuel and causing smoke! (…) And there you are in a passion. (…). But even this commotion can, if you want, be put out before it becomes a rage. If you allow yourself to remain disturbed, however, you will begin to let fly at others – you will be like someone piling logs on a blazing hearth and fanning the fire and so making more firebrands. This is how you get into a rage. (…) For just as burning logs are reduced to cinders and get covered with ash but do not go out for ages, even if water is thrown on them, so also anger that endures for a long time becomes rancor (…). Do you see how from one remark a grievous evil is reached? If, from the beginning, you take the blame when you are reproached, without trying to justify yourself or making counter charges and so repaying evil for evil (Rom 12:17), you will be delivered from all these ills.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team