The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-04-26
EXCESSIVE TALkATIVENESS,

IL goes without saying That IN
everyday social life we are not bound
to such rigid silence as is observed
by Carthusian and Trappist monks.
Also the Catholic religion, in keeping
without natural needs, by no means
prescribes an all too rigorous conduct
of life. On the contrary, a Catholic
should be friendly and obliging, should
| take part without restraint or affecta-
ton in cheerful family and social con-
verse, and should avoid everything
that appears like excessive severity.
But between cordial and spontane-
Gus course of conduct and undue talk
ativeness there is the same distinc-
ton as between use and evident abuse
in general. Just as it is meet and
useful, why, even necessary, that
everyone contribute his share, in his
own circle, to the conversation, so it
is dangerous to talk too much
First Of all. it is difficult, if not i'm.
possible, to give the tongue full free
dom without becoming uncharita BILE
How can one talk continuously, some
times for a whole hour, at table and
in society, without meeting and sue.
Cumbing to the temptation of censuI.
ing some person Or another, of mis-
interpreting his motives, and putting
his failingS and weaknesses in an un.
favorable light? What is the topic of
conversation in most cases, if we are
not discussing politics and science
but still insist on leading the con,
yersation-Of what else do we talk
than the subject of our fellowmen? ?
and that to their disadvantage. Ere
quently to defend such uncharitable
talk the excuse is advanced that il
one could not have his joke at the ex
! pense of the imperfections of others
there would be nothing to talk about
Seriously considering all this, the
| thoughtful Christian will be put on
his guard against this fault. If the
inordinate desire to talk leads to ridi
cule and bacl-biting speech, this cir
cumstance should serve notice to you
| to bride your tongue and guard
against excuses. One word brings
| another one biting remark provokes
| another, and while one may have be
! gun with harmless and tolerable tests
| the gathering will not disband before
the reputation of several persons has
| been damaged.
To this danger is associated an,
other, that of causing friction in the
family and between friends. Doris
and Jane were once inseparable
friends, when suddenly they became
estranged Friends of both were at
first at a loss to account for this
change in their relations, but finally
they traced the matter to it's source
Doris had many fine qualities, but
likewise the fault of talking indis-
criminately about everything. One
time, in large gathering, she allowed
herself to be carried away to the ex-
tent of making fun of Jane by re-
vealing her faults and commenting on
them rather uncomplimentarily. One
of those wagging tongues, of whom
there are everywhere too many speci-
mems, took it upon herself to COM
conversation, of course, embellished
with explanations and amplifications.
That led to a spirited alteration with
Doris and to their final estrangement.
Would this have happened if Doris
had been more careful and reserved
in her speech? if that wretched tale
bearer had not interviewed to enlarge
upon what was originally an insignifi-
cant matter? AS in this case, thus
it happens in many family and be-
tween many friends. The tongue,
the irresistible impulse to talk, the
hankering to enliven conversation,
sows the seeds of discord from which
sprout poisonous fruits, such as bit
ter enmities, etc.
Father Pesch