Manner of Treating Others
Treat everyone in kindness and in the name of Jesus Christ. (OOCC, X, p. 31; STA, 43)
St. Vincent Pallotti thought that others were superior to him in every way. Hence he believed that in comparison with others, he deserved much less. This humble perception of himself made St. Vincent cultivate in himself a deep appreciation of other persons and their God-given gifts and talents. St. Vincent did not measure a human person in terms of what he has done, but rather viewed him in his relationship to Christ. If St. Vincent were to measure the other in terms of his achievements, he might have found many faults in him. But since he measured the other in his relationship with Christ, he was able to see the goodness and dignity of the other, despite his human limitations. As a result, he perceived true richness in the other, which comes from a person’s relationship to God who has showered on him many gifts and his relationship to Christ, who is his model in everyday living. He treated every human person with genuine kindness and respect, and he treated the other in the name of Jesus. He considered the other as one redeemed by Christ; therefore, whatever he did to the other had a bearing on his own relationship with Christ. For this reason, St. Vincent treated others with understanding in order to maintain and grow his own relationship with Jesus. Such an attitude towards his neighbors helped St. Vincent Pallotti to understand other persons in their limitations and yet to love and honor them.
How do I perceive other people? Am I able to see their many God-given gifts and abilities? Do I treat others with kindness and respect? Do I deal with others in the name of Jesus? Am I able to understand, love and honor other people despite their limitations?
Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them … Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. (Rom. 12: 9-10)