Chapter LXXIII: Examples of Truthfulness

A BISHOP, called Firmus—that is, firm, but, as St. Augustine says, more firm in his will to keep God’s holy commandments — when the emperor’s bailiffs came to him, inquiring for a man whom the bishop had hidden, replied that he would neither betray the man to them nor tell them any lie. They being pagans, tortured him severely and led him away to the emperor, but the bishop’s sincerity and goodness made such an impression that the emperor, without any hesitation, pardoned the culprit at the bishop’s request.

Tell no lie under any pretext of good, or appearance of humility, or of any other virtue. A venerable hermit, St. John of Egypt, was visited by a company of good men who desired to receive his holy instructions. He received them most kindly, and they begged his blessing. But he replied: “Is there no one among you in Holy Orders?” They answered, “No.” The saint then looked at each one in turn attentively until he came to the youngest, when he pointed his finger at him and said: “This one is a deacon.” Now, this was really a deacon, but he had concealed the fact from a desire to avoid being honored by men whom he considered so much superior to himself in point of holiness. And out of this motive he denied it again. Now notice the conduct of St. John. He took the hand of the young man, kissed it to show his respect for his office, and addressed him in these words: “Take care, my son, how you disavow the grace you have received from God, for fear a good thing may not cause you to fall into evil, and humility plunge you in lying; for we must never lie, neither out of a bad motive, nor out of a good one; for a lie does not come from God, but from the author of evil, as our Saviour has taught us.” An admirable instruction which you should never forget.

A little boy of nine years of age gives us one equally good. This little boy had forgotten something his father had commanded him to do, and fearing a whipping, he began, as boys do, to cry. The servants asked him the reason, and made up a plausible lie for him to tell to clear himself before his father. “Oh!” said they, “just say so and so, and you will get off; but if you tell the truth you will surely be well flogged.” The boy replied: “It is better to be killed than to lie: let my father do what he likes; for my part, if I die I will tell no lie; how could I dare to appear before the Blessed Virgin after I had told an untruth!”

Suppose, then, that you do succeed by these lies in escaping a scolding or a punishment, what does that signify? You have a guilty conscience. How can you appear with confidence before God in prayer? How can you ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin or the saints who were such haters of all lying.

You have saved your own interest, or your feelings, but have inflicted a great dishonor on God and a shame on His holy religion. “That’s a Catholic.” “That’s one that goes to Confession, but she don’t scruple to tell a lie when she finds it convenient.” “Oh! she is very religious, but you can’t believe a word she says.” “There is one thing about Catholic girls, they will lie”; and a host more of such expressions fly about. They are often unjust, but still I fear there is but too often truth in them.

We may say it is very unjust to attack the church for the sins of her members; but let the members bear in mind that such things will be said if they give occasion by their sins.

In conclusion, then, be determined — out of the fear, and, much more, for the love of God; out of regard to our own souls, and for the honor of the church of Christ, and the good of other souls who see in you an example — “to put away the old man with his corruptions, and put on the new man who is in sincerity and truth”; and “avoiding all lying,” resolve “to speak the truth every man to his neighbor” (Eph. iv. 22-24).