May 17

Perfect joy, in the words of Francis of Assisi, consists in being able to bear an undeserved reproach, to endure bodily suffering for it and to not feel enmity towards the cause of the reproach and the suffering; the joy lies in perceiving true faith and love, such that neither people’s evil nor one’s own suffering can violate.

1

Be careful that you do not do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, do not sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

— Matthew 6:1–2

2

The highest thing of all is when, after being condemned for doing a good deed, you feel joy instead of getting upset.

— After Marcus Aurelius

3

To not feel sad because people do not know about you or misunderstand you is the quality of a truly virtuous person.

— Chinese wisdom

4

When they criticize and condemn you: feel happy; when they approve of your actions: feel sad and afraid.

5

Slander and bad false opinions from which you cannot vindicate yourself are the best school of goodness.

6

When meeting other people, in order to test yourself and destroy your pride, it is a good idea to get into the habit of expecting and awaiting from them not approval and praise, but, on the contrary, humiliation, insults and false opinions about you.

That which is called “holy foolishness,” i.e. behavior that causes people to condemn and attack you, is unjust to the extent that it causes people to commit bad actions, but it is understandable and desirable as a sole test of your love for God and your neighbor.