Forty-sixth point. His manner of dealing with his neighbour

Her answer on the forty-sixth point was :

It is well known that our Blessed Founder gave most easy and free access to all who wished to hold intercourse with him. He had given orders to his servants never to send away any one who asked for him, except on occasions when he was obliged to shut himself up in order to despatch some important business. This, however, he very seldom did, although, as he once told me, the business of his diocese and that which came upon him from elsewhere poured in, not in streams but in torrents, so that we may well admire the way in which he managed to satisfy every one and fulfil all that was required of him.

He received everybody with the same gracious calmness, rejecting none, whatever their condition might be. He listened quietly to them all and as long as each person desired. So patient and attentive was he, that you would have thought he had nothing but that one thing to do; and all left him content and satisfied. Indeed people were only too glad to have some business to communicate to him, that they might enjoy the sweetness and serenity which he diffused into the souls of those who spoke to him, and whom he attracted by this means to confide in him. This was especially the case when the communication related to the soul, for it was his delight to speak of holy devotion, and to incite others, as far as he could, to practise it, according to their vocation and condition.

The manner and speech of our Blessed Founder were exceedingly grave and dignified, but at the same time, most humble, gentle, and candid, for he was absolutely devoid of art, dis simulation, and stiffness. He was never heard to use a badly-chosen word, such as could in the smallest degree annoy any one, or such as breathed of levity. He spoke in a low voice,

222 Saint Sane $. to CtfjantaPs Impositions gravely, steadily, gently, and wisely, and always to the point, but without any attempt at fine language, or any affectation; he loved artlessness and simplicity. I myself, and also many others, have often noticed that he never said too much or too little, but just exactly what was necessary; using expressions so good that they left nothing to be desired. He used to teach us that many things should be said by modest silence, and calmness of mind and deportment, and certainly this practice was much to be admired in his own case.

He was very truthful in all that he said, and used to say that to abstain from lying was a great means of attracting the Spirit of God to dwell within us. When he was struck by the apoplexy of which he died, an Out-sister * of our Convent at Lyons, hearing of his seizure, hurried to him, and thinking to rouse him, told him that his brother, the Bishop of Chalcedon, had arrived. He replied firmly : " Ah, Sister, we must not lie."

The conversation of this great servant of God was openly extolled, and was generally considered, by those who knew him, unequalled in its agreeableness. A French prelate spoke of it as perfectly angelic. My brother, the Archbishop of Bourges, as well as my late father and several other persons of high rank who had been his familiar friends, and had travelled with him, could not sufficiently praise his holy, useful, and

• Tourritre.

most delightful conversation; I have heard them speak of it with admiration.

He never laughed at, or offended any one. He sometimes told little amusing stories, but with so much modesty, that those who heard them, were equally entertained and edified. If he chanced to be in company where the faults of neighbours were discussed and blamed, he always showed that he took no pleasure in the subject, and made excuses for the disparaged individuals. For, if he could not excuse the act, he excused as far as possible the intention, and cast the blame of the errors upon the infirmity of the persons. When the faults committed were very grave, he would raise his eyes to heaven, shrug his shoulders, and say softly : Human misery ! human misery ! this is to remind us that we are but men.

He was never, I believe, heard to speak ill of any one, nor to criticise the actions of others. If any one else did so in his presence, he took up the defence of the absent person, and showed by his words how much such conversation dis pleased him.

Above all things, he could not endure that any one should turn his neighbour into ridicule; he said that this was directly contrary to charity. It happened on one occasion that a person of high rank ridiculed before him another who was very ugly and awkward. When the rest of the company had departed, the holy Bishop took the offender aside. " What ! " he exclaimed, " do you

224 Saint Sane $. tie CljantaPs JBepostttons treat your neighbour in this way ? Is not this creature whom you consider so disagreeable made to the image of God ? Perhaps she is a thousand times more pleasing to Him in her external ugli ness, than all the beauties of the world have ever been. We must learn to love God in His creatures."

This holy Bishop was one of the most perfectly courteous and well-bred men in the world. I know that some of the courtiers admired this in him especially. His holy gravity and dignity were so blended with humility that he excited esteem, reverence, and love in the hearts of all who spoke with him. His words also were gentle, but went to the heart; in fact all those who spoke to him were greatly edified and perfectly satisfied. As he passed through the streets, every one who met him and received his blessing thought himself happy indeed. Even the little children pressed round him, and he touched and caressed them with wonderful tenderness. And all this is true, &c.