Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/361

 that is  in  the  slightest  degree  apt  to  depress  the  character of  your  prelate,  abbess,  confessor,  or  any  other  Superior. By speaking  ill  of  them,  you  would  destroy  in your  companions  the  spirit  of  obedience,  by  diminishing their respect  for  the  judgment  and  authority  of  their Superiors. Should your  language  excite  a  suspicion  in the  mind  of  the  sisters  that  the  Superior  is  unreasonable in her  commands,  it  will  be  very  difficult  to  induce  them to practise  the  obedience  that  is  due  to  her. The sin  of detraction  is  committed,  not  only  by  imputing  to  others what is  not  true,  by  exaggerating  their  defects,  or  by making  known  their  hidden  faults,  but  also  by  representing their  virtuous  actions  as  defective,  or  by  ascribing them  to  a  bad  motive. It is  also  detraction  to  deny the good  works  of  others,  or  to  question  their  claims  to the  just  praise  bestowed  upon  them. To render  their calumnies more  credible,  worldlings  sometimes  begin  by praise  and  end  with  slander. Such a  person,  they  say, has a  great  deal  of  talent,  but  he  is  proud;  he  is  very generous, but  at  the  same  time  very  vindictive.

Let it  be  your  care  always  to  speak  well  of  all. Speak of others  as  you  would  wish  to  be  spoken  of  by  others. With regard  to  the  absent,  observe  the  excellent  rule  of St.  Mary  Magdalene  de  Pazzi:  "  Never  to  utter  in  their absence  what  you  would  not  say  in  their  presence." And should  you  ever  hear  a  sister  speak  ill  of  others,  be careful  neither  to  encourage  her  uncharitableness  nor  to appear  pleased  with  her  language;  otherwise  you  will partake of  her  guilt. You should  either  reprove  her,  or change  the  subject  of  conversation,  or  withdraw  from her, or  at  least  pay  no  attention  to  her. Hedge in  thy ears  with  thorns,  says  the  Holy  Ghost;  hear  not  a  wicked tongue.  Against  detraction,  hedge  in  your  ears  with thorns, that  it  may  not  enter. Whenever, then,  you  hear