“The silent contempt with which one meets slander or injustice is usually a more salutary antidote than sensitivity, strife, or revenge.” —Francis de Sales
It is evil when people speak ill of one another. It can go so far that more sensitive souls suffer so deeply that their lives seem destroyed. In today’s world, with modern means of communication, slander can become a real plague.
How should we deal with it?
The first step should always be to turn to God. When we put our lives in order before God, when our sins are forgiven, and when we sincerely try to remedy the shortcomings in our lives, we live in God’s grace. This remains as long as we take care to remain in accordance with the Father’s will.
When slander comes, it will hurt, but it will not find its way into our souls to spread its poison there. Rather, the soul turns to God and reassures itself of His love. Then what St. Francis de Sales tells us today becomes true: slander cannot harm us, even if it may deceive other, inexperienced souls.
We know that slander is often used by dark spirits to cause discord and create toxic unrest. Those who are grounded in the Lord would do well to remain silent and not concern themselves with slander so as not to give it any weight. Then the goal of poisoning our soul will not be achieved.