Let us meditate on the virtues of affability and gentleness, in which the holy Bishop of Geneva, while remaining firm in the truth, excelled in a particular way in his dealings with all people, even with those who thought and acted in a way very different from his own.
Of these virtues that make possible or facilitate coexistence, and which are so necessary for all of us, the Saint said that "it is necessary to have a great supply and very close at hand, since they must be used almost continuously".2 For the apostolate, family life, friendship..., they are indispensable.
Every day we meet very different people at work, in the street, among our closest relatives..., with very different characters and ways of being, and it is very pleasing to the Lord that we practice living together with everyone. St. Thomas Aquinas points out that a particular virtue is required - which contains many others that seem small - that "takes care to order the relations of men with their fellow men, both in deeds and in words".3 These virtues lead us to strive in every situation to make life more pleasant for those around us.
They make relations between men amiable, and are a true mutual help on our way to Heaven, which is where we want to go; perhaps they do not cause great admiration, but when they are missing, they are greatly missed and relations between men become strained and difficult. They are virtues opposed, by their very nature, to selfishness, to intemperate gestures, to bad temper, to lack of education, to disorder, to shouting and impatience, to living without taking into account those who are close to us. Pleasant conversation, a respectful manner, should be practiced at work, in traffic..., and in a particular way with those we usually live with, "which is greatly lacking in those who seem to be angels in the street, and devils in their own homes, "4 as the Saint pointed out. Let us examine today how we treat and converse with those whom the Lord has placed at our side, with whom we live or work side by side. Affability opens the door to friendship and, therefore, to the apostolate.
HCD