How should I deal with a person with mistaken ideas?
- We must see in others souls that have to be saved.
"Charity always, towards everyone. While we can't deal with error the same way as with truth, we need to be particularly understanding towards those who are in error, while all the time respecting the right order of the Christian virtue of charity."
"Never be violent. I don't understand violence; it doesn't seem the right way to convince or overcome anyone. A soul that receives the faith always feels victorious. Error is overcome by prayer, by the grace of God, by reasoned argument, by studying and getting others to study, and, I repeat, by charity."
"So, if ever anyone tries to ill-treat those who are mistaken, be certain that I will feel internally compelled to go and stand beside them and share their lot for the love of God."
The Good Samaritan saw in the man on the roadside, not an enemy of his race, but a brother in need. St Josemaría said: "There is no one so ‘bad’ in the world –I don't like to speak about ‘bad people’ and ‘good people’: I don't divide men up into good and bad– there are no people so evil-minded and wretched that they haven't done something virtuous in their life. If they are not better, we are partly to blame. Often, their errors are the result of being badly taught. In not a few cases, these poor people had no one to teach them the truth. I think that on judgment day, many souls will answer God like the paralytic beside the pool: I had no one to help me. Or as those laborers who weren't working answered the owner of the vineyard: No one hired us; no one has asked us to work."
"Remember Christ's cry on the Cross, finding excuses for those putting him to death: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Let us follow Christ's example and never reject anyone. To save one soul, we should go as far as the very gates of hell. But not further, for beyond them one cannot love God."
We have to take the initiative in understanding others, following Christ's example, as did St Josemaría: "I cannot be uncharitable toward anyone, because if it seems someone does not deserve charity, neither do I. I don't deserve to be a Christian, a priest, or a son of God in his Work. Do you understand? I can't treat anyone harshly. I have to be understanding toward everyone, as long as this compassion doesn't harm souls, the Work, or the Church."
Nov 26 Wed