I couldn’t help but notice the Patristic reading in the Office of Readings for today. It seems to mesh well with yesterday’s post on non-violence. St. Dorotheus had this to say (my translation of the Italian):
“He who takes blame on himself, serenely accepts everything when he runs into whatever injury, slander, offense, adversity or other affliction; through it all he remains deserving and nothing in any way can disturb him. Who is there who is more tranquil than such a man?
“Perhaps someone will object: ‘If a brother attacks me and examining myself I find I have not given him any reason to do so, why should I accuse myself?’ Certainly, if with fear of God, I diligently examine myself, I will never find myself to be completely innocent and I will find either by actions or words or attitude that I have given him reason. Even if in the present situation I do not find myself responsible, certainly at another moment I will treat my brother harshly or in some new or old matter I will have brought harm to him or some other brother. Because of this, I rightly suffer because in other innumerable ways I have sinned.” — St. Dorotheus, Doctr. 13, De accusatione sui ipsius, 2-3; PG 88, 1699
Perhaps a medieval manner of speaking, but he touches on a subject many of us would rather not consider: When someone attacks us, especially when we are at peace, perhaps our response should ultimately be self-examination, and a sincere search for how we may have contributed to a broader context that gives rise to violence, rather than using violence to counter violence.
