excelled in these two virtues, giving us a rare example of them in His life and passion, like a most meek and patient lamb, that we might imitate Him in them. And to the two apostles who, with a spirit of anger and revenge, cloaked with zeal, desired " fire to come down from heaven " and consume the Samaritans, He said, " You know not of what spirit you are." [1] As if He should say, The spirit of my disciples must not be of anger, but of meekness; not of vengeance, but of sufferance.
Colloquy. — O meek and patient Jesus, who, when " reviled," didst not " revile and, suffering injuries, didst not "threaten;" [2] and receiving most grievous contempt, either didst answer with divine meekness or didst hold Thy peace with admirable silence, aid me, that in imitation of Thee I may vanquish anger, repress impatience, embrace meekness, and, armed with patience, may suffer afflictions willingly, that I may attain to enjoy with Thee eternal repose! Amen.
MEDITATION XXIII.
ON ENVY.
POINT I.
Envy is an inordinate sadness on account of our neighbour's good, when it excels and obscures our own. [3] It springs from pride and is accompanied with anger, so that the acts of these vices accompany it. The most ordinary are to abhor my neighbour because his prosperity makes me sad, to rejoice at his fall, to grieve at his exaltation, to hear his praise with pain, and dispraise with delight, to murmur at
