In the monastery of Clairvaux lived a laybrother of great piety, who had learned from the example of Jesus Christ to be always meek and humble of heart. The other religious one day asked him for the secret that made him so patient and meek.

He answered them : "My brothers, I long ago made the firm decision, which by the grace of God I have faithfully kept, that every time I received any rebuke, either justly or unjustly, I would always say an ‘Our Father’ for the one who rebuked me."

One day this pious lay-brother was obliged to travel through a thick forest. As he was passing on his way, he was attacked by a band of robbers, who took away everything he had, and even beat him up.

When the robbers had gone away, the brother rose from the ground on which they had left him, and kneeling down, asked God to pardon them. It happened that one of the robbers, going back, saw him kneeling with his hands stretched out towards Heaven. Surprised, the robber watched him for a time to see what he would do. But as he continued for a long time to pray, the robber returned in haste to his companions, and, striking his breast, said to them,

"What have we done? Oh, woe to us for touching so holy a man! The anger of God is sure to fall upon us. Since the moment we left him, he has not ceased praying, and I am sure he must be praying for us."

The robbers, hearing these words, returned to the place where they had left the good monk and found him still on his knees, praying with all the fervor of a Saint. They at once gave him back all that they had taken from him, and asked him to pardon them for what they had done. They then went away, leaving him in peace.