Evenness of Mind of Saint Vincent

That state of subjection of body and mind in virtue of which a man remains always at peace, always the same, whatever happens, is "not so much a special virtue," says Saint Vincent, "as it is a state which presupposes in him the combination of all virtues. It is a ray, a reflection on the exterior, of the peace and beauty within." A Christian who by force of violence, of mortifying himself, of uniting his will with the Will of God, has reached this point is henceforth master of himself, and remains calm and tranquil through all the vicissitudes of life. Whatever one may say of him or do to him, nothing causes any upheaval in his soul, whether he be crushed by the weight of affairs, whether he receives from the Hand of God the most unexpected blows, whether he be forgotten, despised, betrayed by those whom he loved or overwhelmed with kindness, his heart is always the same, his brow just as serene, his words always moderate; even his voice never changes tone and, on this point, already resembles the voice of the elect in that blessed Abode where there is no alteration nor change.

This is the portrait of our Saint. From his tenderest years to his extreme old age his piety, devotion and charity never diminished. In him one never saw those suspensions of virtue, those eclipses of fervour, which one so often meets with in other men; he walked on always with a regular step in the path of perfection, drawing with him all those who opposed his path. After considering this evenness of mind in general, we must mention what an example we have of it in the execution of such a great number of holy works for the good of the Church and the State. Without truce or relaxation, he had to occupy himself about the service of the poor, the instruction of the people and the means of sanctifying the clergy. He never left off a good work when there was question of beginning a better one, but he continued them both until he had brought them to completion. Contradictions, accidents and persecutions fortified his courage instead of shaking it. He wished always for what he thought God desired of him, and he desired it with that peace which great souls alone possess.

His balance of mind accompanied him in all the various functions he had to carry out. Honours never changed his manners nor his exterior conduct. The splendours of the Court, which dazzle so many others, made no impression upon him. Courtiers, prelates, ecclesiastics and other personages, who were inspired with sentiments of esteem, rendered him great honour; as to him, he received them with profound humility and great meekness. A Bishop, finding him always humble and as ready to render service to those who needed him, as he had been previously to being summoned to the Court, described him by these two words, which contain much meaning: "Mr. Vincent is always Mr. Vincent."

But nothing shows his equality of mind better than the adversities he had to bear. These perils, so disastrous to many, only made his virtue shine all the brighter.

In the space of ten or twelve years he sustained more losses than usually happen during a whole century. Many of his Houses had no other revenues than what came absolutely by chance, and these revenues failed sometimes from four to eight months, or even for a whole year. Then he would hear that one of his farms had been pillaged; finally, sometimes death would reap seven or eight of his evangelical workers quite suddenly, and that in a country where it was difficult, or even impossible, to find anyone to replace them.

In the midst of all these adversities, which, following closely on each other, usually upset one's equilibrium, he was heard repeating these words: "God be praised! we must submit to His Will and accept all that it pleases Him to send us!"

A few remarkable facts showing his equality of soul have been recorded for us. One day, about two steps distant from his house, he received a blow from a man whom he had accidentally knocked against in passing. The Saint, throwing himself at the feet of him who had treated him so outrageously, presented to him the other cheek, asking his pardon. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood, who had witnessed the insult, and who respected Saint Vincent as a father, assembled in a crowd round him. If he had only given a sign the unjust aggressor would have been thrown into prison: the man, of his own accord, either because the cries of the crowd had terrified him, or because the humility of the holy priest had made him realize all the vileness of his act, threw himself at the feet of Saint Vincent and asked his pardon.

A gentleman, having gone to beg a benefice for his son, could not obtain the support he asked for. On withdrawing he treated Saint Vincent in an insolent manner, on the threshold, in presence of many others. "You are right, sir," said the holy man. casting himself at his feet, "I am only a miserable man, and a sinner." The former, surprised at this unexpected behaviour, made one bound into his carriage. The Saint got up, ran to the carriage and saluted him. How much it must cost nature to act in such a manner! What virtue must be needed to conceive such a design! What equality of mind to execute it! But what quarrels, what discords we should avoid if we possessed such courage!

Practice - He who does not take the trouble to acquire this balance, this evenness of mind, will never have the Spirit of the Lord with him: "The Lord does not dwell in agitation and trouble".

- text taken from Virtue and Christian Refinement According to the Spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul, by Saint John Bosco