Love the Unlovable

We will always have to deal with someone we don’t like, at church, at work, maybe in our own family. Here’s some good advice from Lorenzo Scupoli, (1530 – 28 November 1610) who was the author of Il combattimento spirituale (The Spiritual Combat), one of the most important works of Catholic spirituality.

“If thy disturbance of mind proceeds from a person who is so disagreeable to thee, that every little action of his annoys or irritates thee, the remedy is to force thyself to love him, and to hold him dear; not only because he is a creature formed by the same sovereign hand as thou art, but also because he offers thee an opportunity (if thou wilt accept it) of becoming like unto thy Lord, who is kind and loving unto all men.”

“These things I command you, that you love one another.” John 25:17

For more about loving one another see:

Little Children, Love One Another

Love One Another

Perfect Love

What Should I Do When I am Angry?

All of these suggestions are from my devotional reading.

“In your anger, do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”  Ephesians 4:26

 

“When thou art offended or annoyed by others, suffer not thy thoughts to dwell thereon, or on anything related to them.  For example, ‘that they ought not so to have treated thee;  who they are, or whom they think themselves to be;’ or the like;  for all this is fuel and kindling of wrath, anger and hatred.”

Lorenzo Scupoli, Catholic author (1530-1610)

 

“Struggle diligently against your impatience, and strive to be amiable and gentle, in season and out of season, towards every one, however much they may vex and annoy you, and be sure God will bless your efforts.”

St. Francis De Sales