"Without contention, without willfullness, without obstinacy...."

Today is the feast of St. Peter Canisius, Doctor of the Church, a Jesuit who knew St. Ignatius. He was a powerful preacher against heresy who participated in two sessions of the Council of Trent called to address the inroads of the Protestant revolution. 

Sounds like a perfect intercessor for own day, eh? As I was reading the entry in Butler's Lives of the Saints this morning I asked St. Peter to be an intercessor overlooking and interceding for those who comment on the blog, including myself and my blog partner, Susan. St. Peter was never contentious. 

He described the "spirit and manner in which Christian apologetics and controversy should be conducted." I think it would be a blessing if all who engage in apologetics and commented anywhere on blogs or social media followed his advice. The passage I quote below relates to Protestants, but it could relate to many other situations as well. How do we react to those with whom we disagree? Are we patient, kind, not rude? Do we engage with anger seeking the elevation of our own opinions above theirs? Do we rejoice in evil to the extent of chortling over the murder of others taking pleasure in the killing as long as the ones who die are the "bad guys" according to our judgment? 

I'm often disturbed by the tone of comments to the point where I consider shutting down comments altogether. I hate to do that because I think reasoned discourse is a good way to advance knowledge and lead to the truth. But it seems our culture is more and more oriented toward anger where debate and discourse devolve into mudslinging. Courtesy has been called the oil that keeps the gears of society running smoothly, but it seems rare these days. St. Peter obviously valued it and, like another Doctor of the Church, St. Francis de Sales, preached it. We would do well to follow his example. Here's Butler's synopsis:

...among the practical points laid down by Canisius was that it is a mistake "to bring up in conversation subjects to which Protestants have an antipathy...such as confession, satisfaction, purgatory, indulgences, monastic vows and pilgrimages; the reason being that, like fever patients, they have infected palates and so are incapable of judging aright about such foods. Their need, as that of children, is for milk, and they should be led gently and gradually to those dogmas about which there is dispute". Canisius was stern towards the leaders and propagators of heresy, and like most other people in those days he was prepared to use force to repress their activities. But the rank and file who had been born in Lutheranism, or had drifted into it, were another matter. He spent a lifetime opposing heresy and restoring Catholic faith and life: and he declared of the Germans that "Certainly an infinite number of them adhere to the new sectaries and err in religious belief, but they do so in such a way as proves that their errors proceed from ignorance rather than malice. They err, I repeat but without contention, without willfulness, without obstinacy." And even those who were more consciously and defiantly unorthodox should not be met, he wrote, "in a tempers of asperity or...with discourtesy, for this is nothing else than the reverse of Christ's example inasmuch as it is to break the bruised reed and quench the smoking flax".

As I read this, I thought of St. Paul's question to the Corinthians: "Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?" [1 Cor 4:21] I'm going to examine my own conscience today to see how I respond "with a rod" when I'm crossed. St. Peter Canisius, please intercede for me that I might, rather, always act with a "spirit of gentleness," especially in the most contentious situations. 

Jesus, Prince of Peace, have mercy on us.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us. 

St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.