“Calumny only harms those who take it to heart” (St. Francis de Sales).
One of the most terrible offences that we humans inflict on each other is slander. In other words, it is the very common vice of speaking ill of other people. If we look at it more closely, it is a kind of psychological homicide against the person in question. Unfortunately, it is not just something that happens from time to time. We have even witnessed a kind of ‘public execution’ of people through the media and, nowadays, through the Internet.
But how do we deal with slander when it is directed against us?
St Francis of Sales recommends that we do not worry about what is said about us, that we do not allow slander to enter our hearts and poison them. It may not always be that easy. But if our Father dwells in our hearts, we can bring before Him the wounds that these malicious words want to inflict on us and not dwell on them, that is, not give them our attention.
The Lord Himself gave us an example of maintaining this distance in the face of slander, often keeping silent rather than entering into a discussion that would lead nowhere. He was surrounded by accusers who wanted to set Him up and say bad things about Him. As the hostility intensified and degenerated into mockery and ridicule on the road to Calvary, the Lord remained silent. No doubt it must have hurt Him, but He did not allow evil to provoke Him, and so He was able to overcome it inwardly.
What we can learn from this is that we should be careful not to become the bearers of calumny ourselves or to speak ill of others. In this way we remove ourselves from the dynamic of evil. If we are unable to avoid it, we should seek refuge in our Heavenly Father and ask Him to purify our hearts.