The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

It will be necessary for us, very likely, to overcome and subdue a naturally impatient and irritable temper. We do not meet obstacles calmly or bear contradiction well, or accept the postponement of our hopes, because of this infirmity of our disposition. We are sensitive to every demonstration that crosses our wishes and interferes with our plans. Checked by sudden limitation, we flame out into the flush of anger and hot words of reproach. What we have to do to save our peace of mind from constant disturbance and wreck is to grapple in earnest with this feverish and fretful temper. It will hold us to a hard conflict. It is in possession. It keeps the citadel. "This kind goeth not out" at our careless bidding: nor "without prayer and fasting." We must watch it vigilantly; we must pray earnestly for divine help; we must suppress the outward explosions, and stifle the bad spirit for want of air; we must shut our lips as with iron clamps, bite our hasty tongues, hold our hands before our flashing eyes and scarlet cheeks, and never intermit this strife till Jesus has breathed into our souls instead of this fractious and heady disposition, His own meekness and patience.