Chapter 67: Of the right manner of exercising zeal

As Gertrude prayed for a person whose conscience waa troubled, fearing that she was guilty before God for not having borne with sufficient patience the negligence of some persons by whose bad example she feared religious disci pline would become relaxed, our Lord, who is the best of all masters, instructed her thus : " If any one desires that her zeal should be an acceptable sacrifice to Me, and useful to her own soul, she should have a special care of three things ; first, she should show a gentle and serene coun tenance towards those whom she desires to correct for their faults, and even, when opportunity offers, she should mani fest her charity towards them by her actions as well as by her words ; secondly, she should be careful not to publish £hese negligences in places where she neither expects amendment in the person corrected nor caution in the listeners ; thirdly^ when her conscience urges her to reprehend any fault, no human consideration should induce her to be silent, but, from a pure motive of giving glory to God and benefiting souls, let her seek an opportunity of correcting these imperfec tions with profit and charity. Then she will be rewarded according to her labour, not according to her success ; for if her care entirely fails of effect, it will not be her fault, but the fault of those who refuse to hear her."

As the Saint prayed again for two persons who had a verbal disagreement, one anxious for the maintenance of justice, and the other for charity, our Lord said to her : " When a father who loves his little children sees them playing together and disporting merely for amusement, he appears not to notice it ; but if he perceives that one rises up against the other too harshly, then he immediately reprehends severely the one who is in fault. Thus also I, who am the Father of mercies, when I see two persons arguing together with a good intention, appear not to per ceive it, though I would much prefer to see them enjoy an entire peace of heart ; but if one becomes angry with the other, she shall not escape the rod of My paternal justice."