St. Francis de Sales - the Gentleman Saint
Doctor of the Church
Feast Day - January 24th
Bishop of Geneva, Patron Saint of Catholic
Writers.
He was born on August 21, 1567. To give you some
reference on an historical timeline, St Francis was almost
an exact contemporary of William Shakespeare, who
lived from 1564 -1616. Martin Luther died 20 years before Francis was born, and Calvin
died just 3 years before. Francis’s life and work were significantly affected by the French
rulers, Catherine de Medici; Henry III, who was assassinated in 1589; and Henry IV, who
ended the civil and religious wars before he, too, was assassinated in 1610. It was an
unpeaceful, violent age into which Francis came to preach pardon and peace. The Church
was on the defensive, suffering such things as confiscation of property, the outlawing of
mass, the expulsion of priests from certain areas, and the suppression of religious orders.
Many of its members were lured away by evil heresies, and those who stayed faithful
suffered greatly. Francis de Sales was to become an active - and extremely vital participant in the Counter Reformation which sought to nurse the Church, and ultimately
the world, back to health again.
Francis de Sales was born, as I mentioned, in August of 1567, in Thorens at Savoy.
Savoy, a powerful duchy, was somewhat of an independent state at the time, but was
eventually, nearly three centuries later, in 1860, incorporated into France. Francis’s
father, Seigneur Francois de Sales de Boisy was a fine soldier and skilled diplomat, a
devoted husband, and a fair lord of his manor - strong willed and very faithful to his
Catholic heritage. Francis’s mother, Francoise, came from a wealthy family, and brought
into the marriage as her dowry the de Boisy estate. She had a gracious and practical faith,
and would be a tender and understanding guide to Francis, her first child. Francis was the
oldest of 7 children (6 boys and 1 girl). The siblings would get so boisterous sometimes
in their disagreements that their father would hold court in the kitchen to settle their
squabbles.
Francis was well schooled. At the age of 6, he was sent to a boy’s school called the
College de la Roche (boy’s schools at that time were often named “colleges”). That was
followed by the College of Annecy, then, at the age of 13, the Jesuit College of Clermont
at the University of Paris. Years later, Francis wrote in regard to his studies, “In Paris, I
studied many things to please my father, and theology to please myself.”
Francis’s father was grooming him to bring greater honor, to the family name, by
becoming a lawyer. Those demands on Francis were in conflict with his belief that he had
a vocation to the priesthood. This struggle, combined with Francis’s confusion brought
on by Calvin’s heresy regarding predestination, caused Francis great stress. Our sensitive
saint was plagued with a certainty that he was destined, by God, for damnation. What a
terrible, horrific fear to take hold of one’s heart! It is believed that Francis endured this
conflict for several weeks. It ended with heartfelt prayer before the Blessed Virgin Mary,
at a church in Paris. Francis prayed to God, “If I may not love you in the other world - for
in hell, no one praises you - then let me at least spend every moment of my brief life here
in loving you as much as I can!” With these words, a simple act of unrestrained love of
God, his torment ended. Francis continued in his studies at the University of Padua, and
at the age of 25, he received the degree of doctor of laws. As the provost conferred the
degree upon Francis, he said to him, “Like the fountain of Arethusa, which mingles its
water with the salt sea without losing its sweetness, you have lived in the midst of a
voluptuous city and preserved your innocence.”
Upon his return home, Francis had to overcome the most challenging hurdle in his desire
to become a priest, and that was his father’s plans for him. His father immediately
transferred one of the family titles to his son - that of Seigneur de Vilalroget - and pushed
Francis to take the necessary steps to join the Savoy senate. There was also much talk of
a betrothal, but Francis was able to stall for awhile, before finally breaking the news to
his father that he was being called - by a higher power! - to a rather different vocation. At
first, his father was angry, and nearly inconsolable, but, as often happens, God stepped in
to clear a path. Francis was recommended by his cousin, Canon Louis de Sales, to fill a
vacancy which had just come to be in the Cathedral Chapter at Annecy. Francis was
appointed dean of the Cathedral Chapter, an honorable position that eased his father’s
disappointment.
With some of the old, informal medieval procedures still sometimes in use in the Church
at the time, Francis was able to go through the steps of minor orders, sub-deacon, deacon,
and ordination to the priesthood in just 6 months! Some of the haste was also due, in
large part, to the already apparent holiness of this man, as well as his mastery of theology
and philosophy. In a brief retreat prior to his ordination, Francis made a promise to - in
his own words - make “every moment of every day a preparation for tomorrow’s mass, so
that should someone ask me, ‘What are you doing at this moment?’ I could truly answer,
‘Preparing to celebrate Mass!’”
Within 18 months of his ordination, Fr. Francis volunteered to go to one of the highly
protestantized areas from which priests had been exiled, to serve and re-evangelize the
persecuted Catholics there. He, and his cousin Canon Louis de Sales, left for Chablais in
September of 1594. Their first successes in bringing Catholics back to the faith were with
the Catholic soldiers in the fortress they were forced to reside in, for fear of their safety.
In visits to nearby Thonon, the capital of Chablais, which was nearly 14 miles round trip,
Francis would search out the frightened Catholics, administer the sacraments, and preach
to the small groups he was able to gather.
When winter set in, Fr. de Sales faced very treacherous travel to and from Thonon, one
time almost freezing to death in a tree he had climbed to escape the wolves. Most of the
time, the “wolves” were in the form of resentful Calvinists, who did their best to silence
his message and slander his name. Their Calvinist followers were forbidden to even listen
to anything Fr. Francis had to say. But Francis de Sales was ahead of his time! He made
leaflets and posters with simple explanations of Catholic doctrines, and had each one
copied many times - by hand of course! These teachings were then posted and distributed
all around Thonon, so that those who might be afraid to listen to Fr. de Sales’ message
would be able to discreetly read his leaflets. These teachings were later published in one
volume called Controversies.
Francis had much success with his efforts. Catholics who had just about given up on their
faith returned to it, and those who had stood courageously for the truth were encouraged
by the growing numbers of the faithful. By Lent of 1595, 17 months after arriving in
Chablais, it was finally safe enough in the city of Thonon for Francis to move closer to
those he was serving. He was then able to begin celebrating daily mass in the Chapel of
St. Stephen. (Try to imagine what a tremendous blessing this must have been to the
Catholics of that area!). The courageous and eloquent Fr. Francis even managed to
convert a group of hit men who were hired by some of the more overly-zealous Calvinists
who wished to simply do away with him. St. Francis persuaded every one of the men to
convert to the Catholic faith! (And that would be why the Calvinists forbid their
followers to listen to Fr. de Sales! Francis knew the truth, and he spoke it boldly with
eloquence and love.)
Francis continued in Thonon for a few more years, while
his father constantly begged him to return home, and his
mother secretly sent him financial support. Through Fr.
Francis’s efforts, in 1598 the faithful of Chablais saw, for
the first time in 63 years, the administering of the
sacraments of confirmation and ordination. Healing was
truly taking place for these previously persecuted
Catholics, and their hearts were filled with hope.
As things in Thonon began to calm down, Francis did
return to his family for a visit. While there, he was struck
with a mysterious illness, from which he almost died.
Could it have had anything to do with the writing he was
doing on demons and exorcisms? Whatever the cause, he
recovered under the loving and constant care of his mother.
He then traveled to Rome to be examined by Pope
Clement, to find out if Fr. Francis was worthy of the title of
bishop. After a bit of a delay, believed to be at the request of Francis himself, he was
consecrated Bishop of Geneva on the feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1602.
As bishop, he accepted an invitation in 1604 from the mayor of Dijon, to preach a course
of sermons for the Lenten season. While in Dijon, Bishop Francis de Sales met Jane de
Chantal, the widowed daughter of the mayor. Both Bishop Francis and Jane de Chantal
knew that something extraordinary would come from their meeting and ensuing
friendship. At their first sight of each other, there was instant recognition from the visions
they had each had of the other. So began Fr. Francis’s ministry of personal spiritual
direction. Luckily for us, most of St. Francis’s spiritual guidance in the coming years was
done in writing, and so spelled out clearly for us the essence of Salesian spirituality.
From these letters of council to Madame de Chantal, to
his mother, and to other women who came to Bishop
de Sales for spiritual direction, was born his most wellknown and well-loved book, Introduction to the
Devout Life. It is evident in his writing that Bishop de
Sales was highly influenced by the Spiritual Exercises
of St. Ignatius - no doubt one of his favorite saints!
The first part of the “Introduction,” as this work is
often called, feels like the start of an Ignatian retreat, as
St. Francis bids us to begin the weeding and pruning of
the garden of our souls. The 2nd part focuses on
elevating the soul to God by prayer and the sacraments, followed by a section on the
“Practice of Various Virtues.” All of the letters are addresses to Philothea - a feminine
name which St Francis used to refer to the lover of God, or, the soul. Francis completes
this work by encouraging Philothea to have courage and persevere in virtue. The
Introduction to the Devout Life was so well received, it was remarkable. After almost
instant resounding triumph in France, it was quickly translated into several other
languages. It was, indeed, what the faithful had needed and longed for, and it most
certainly fueled the fire of the Counter Reformation (also known as the Catholic Reform).
Bishop de Sales had one more dream - to found a religious community for women which
would combine contemplative prayer with active service. (This was a new idea in his
time, since most nuns lived in cloister, and did not leave to visit the sick or poor - or for
any other reason.) Madam de Chantal suggested the name of the order of the Visitation of
Holy Mary, an idea which the bishop liked better than his own idea of Daughters of Saint
Martha. In 1610, Jane de Chantal joined a few other women for a year in novitiate, with
the new order under the direction of Bishop Francis de Sales.
Jane was to be named the Mother Foundress of this new order, which soon found
opposition to its goal of visiting the sick. People of the time were used to cloistered nuns,
and even though Bishop de Sales and Madam de Chantal had the support of Cardinal
Robert Bellarmine, the Archbishop of Lyons would not allow a relaxed, uncloistered
congregation in his archdiocese. St. Francis humbled himself and gave in to Archbishop
de Marquemont’s demands. Mother de Chantal struggled with the decision a bit more
than the bishop did, but, with the reorganization, the order spread quickly throughout
France and into Italy.
St. Francis’s teachings to his new order would eventually be gathered into what many call
his greatest work of literature - Treatise on the Love of God. Francis himself said that this
was directed to those “advanced in devotion.” In these writings, he addresses his teaching
to Theotimus - this time a masculine name so that people would not think his teachings to
be directed only to women (which is what some people did think, with the Introduction to
the Devout Life being addressed to Philothea). Theotimus represented “the human spirit
desirous of making progress in holy love.”
In addition to the extensive amount of writing and
traveling that St. Francis did, there are also many
miracles attributed to him during his life. One of the most
spectacular was the healing of a little girl. In 1616,
Bishop de Sales received word of the death of a little girl
- the granddaughter of a dear friend. The bishop
immediately began to pray fervently for her. Those who
were with the child reported that, in the very same hour
when Francis had received the news and begun to pray,
the little girl opened her eyes. She said she had seen and
heard the “holy Papa of Geneva.” The girl grew up to
enter the Order of the Visitation.
The good bishop continued to labor hard and travel often,
despite his increasingly poor health. He could never say
no to those who needed him. Near the end of his life,
while traveling to Avignon, Francis stopped at a newly
established Visitation convent. One of the young sisters met the bishop in tears, and,
when asked why she was crying, she answered, “My Lord, it is because you will die this
year!” She begged him to pray for his life, and promised that she would do the same. But
the bishop told her that he was tired and so heavy he could barely carry himself. He had
no wish to pray for healing. He assured the young sister that she was in good care with
Mother de Chantal, and also with another dear friend of his who had recently taken the
position of spiritual director of the Visitation order - Vincent de Paul.
St. Francis was ready to leave this world, and on Dec 26, 1622, after an extremely busy
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day schedule, his strength finally gave out and he
collapsed. He spent 2 days under the care of 17th century doctors and their archaic
practice of bleeding their patients. He was in and out of consciousness, but finally, at
nightfall on Dec 28, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, St. Francis said, “It is toward
evening and the day is far spent.” Then he spoke the name of Jesus, and, at the age of 55,
left behind the trials of this world.
Mother de Chantal, who had been blessed with a grace-filled peace at the passing of her
beloved mentor, immediately began the work of having her dear friend’s sainthood (of
which she had no doubt!) officially recognized by the Church. She gathered his written
notes, sermons, conferences and letters to present, and also prepared her own depositions.
In one she wrote, “...our dear Father never did anything for the sake of escaping hell, or
of deserving heaven; he performed all his actions simply and solely for the love of God.”
Much to the credit of the heartfelt efforts of Mother de Chantal (who is, by the way,
known to us today as St. Jane Francis de Chantal), Francis de Sales was canonized just 43
years after his death by Pope Alexander VII. He was later proclaimed a Doctor of the
Church.
Some quotes from St Francis de Sales, from a modern translation of the Introduction to
the Devout Life:
Recall your spirit into the presence of God as often as you can in the course of the
day. .... As the birds have their nests in trees, to which they may retire when they have
need, so should our hearts choose some place every day, either on Mt. Calvary or in
some other place near Him, as a retreat to which we may occasionally retire to refresh
....ourselves amid our exterior occupations. ...Blessed is the soul who can say to the
Lord, “Thou art my place of strength and my refuge, my defense from storms, and my
shadow from the heat.”
Your heart, dear friend, ought to be open only to heaven, and impenetrable to this
world’s riches and all perishable things. If you have material things, keep your heart
above them and free from the love of them. ...If you keep riches in your house or purse
and not in your heart, you shall be rich indeed.
A prayer:
Most loving God, grant that as the Church of your Son
has many members in one body, so after the teaching of
your servant, Francis de Sales, each may follow that path
of devotion which is fitted to his calling, and by the power
of your Spirit grow in holiness and love; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
SOME ADDITIONAL QUOTES:
Nothing makes us so prosperous in this world as to
give alms.
-Saint Francis de Sales
It is to those who have the most need of us that we ought to show our love more
especially.
-Saint Francis de Sales
Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a
perfect confidence.
Saint Francis de Sales
Salvation is shown to faith, it is prepared for hope, but it is given only to charity.
Faith points out the way to the land of promise as a pillar of fire hope feeds us
with its manna of sweetness, but charity actually introduces us into the Promised
Land.
Saint Francis de Sales
Oh what remorse we shall feel at the end of our lives, when we look back upon
the great number of instructions and examples afforded by God and the Saints for
our perfection, and so carelessly received by us! If this end were to come to you
today, how would you be pleased with the life you have led this year?
Saint Francis de Sales
We must fear God out of love, not love Him out of fear.
Saint Francis de Sales
In the royal galley of divine Love, there is no galley slave: all rowers are
volunteers.
Saint Francis de Sales
We are not drawn to God by iron chains, but by sweet attractions and holy
inspirations.
Saint Francis de Sales
Perfection of life is the perfection of love. For love is the life of the soul.
Saint Francis de Sales
By giving yourself to God, you not only receive Himself in exchange, but eternal
life as well.
Saint Francis de Sales
Man is the perfection of the Universe.
The spirit is the perfection of man.
Love is the perfection of the spirit, and charity that of love.
Therefore, the love of God is the end, the perfection of the Universe.
Saint Francis de Sales
There are many who say to the Lord, "I give myself wholly to Thee, without any
reserve," but there are few who embrace the practice of this abandonment, which
consists in receiving with a certain indifference every sort of event, as it happens
in conformity with Divine Providence, as well afflictions as consolations,
contempt and reproaches as honor and glory.
Saint Francis de Sales
One of the principle effects of holy abandonment in God is evenness of spirits in
the various accidents of this life, which is certainly a point of great perfection, and
very pleasing to God. The way to maintain it is in imitation of the pilots, to look
continually at the Pole Star, that is, the Divine Will, in order to be constantly in
conformity with it. For it is this will which, with infinite wisdom rightly
distributes prosperity and adversity, health and sickness, riches and poverty,
honor and contempt, knowledge and ignorance, and all that happens in this life.
On the other hand, if we regard creatures without this relation to God, we cannot
prevent our feelings and disposition from changing, according to the variety of
accidents which occur.
Saint Francis de Sales
Some torment themselves in seeking means to discover the art of loving God, and
do not know - poor creatures - that there is no art or means of loving Him but to
love those who love Him - that is, to begin to practice those thing which are
pleasing to Him.
Saint Francis de Sales
Our business is to love what would have done. He wills our vocation as it is. Let
us love that and not trifle away our time hankering after other people's vocations.
Saint Francis de Sales
Every moment comes to us pregnant with a command from God, only to pass on
and plunge into eternity, there to remain forever what we have made of it.
Saint Francis de Sales
All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of
life we live and no matter what our life work may be.
Saint Francis de Sales
An action of small value performed with much love of God is far more excellent
than one of a higher virtue, done with less love of God.
Saint Francis de Sales
Blessed are those whose hearts are ever open to God's inspiration; they will never
lack what they need to live good holy lives, or to perform properly the duties of
their state. For just as God gives each animal through its nature the instincts
needed for its self-preservation, so - if we offer no obstacle to grace - he gives
each of us the inspirations needed for life, activity and self-preservation on the
spiritual level.
When we are at a loss what to do, when human help fails us in our dilemmas, then
God inspires us. If only we are humbly obedient, he will not let us go astray.
Some plants point their flowers at the sun, turn them with it as it moves. The
sunflower, however, turns not only its flowers, but its leaves as well. In the same
way all God's chosen ones turn their hearts toward God's will by keeping his
commandments. But those who are utterly filled with charity turn to God's will by
more than mere obedience to his commandments. They also give him their hearts,
follow him in all that he commands, counsels or inspires, unreservedly, with no
exceptions whatsoever.
Saint Francis de Sales, from Finding God Wherever You Are
Anxiety is a temptation in itself and also the source from and by which other
temptations come.
Sadness is that mental pain which is caused by the involuntary evils which affect
us. These may be external - such as poverty, sickness, contempt of others - or they
may be internal - such as ignorance, dryness in prayer, aversion, and temptation
itself.
When the soul is conscious of some evil, it is dissatisfied because of this, and
sadness is produced. The soul wishes to be free from this sadness, and tries to find
the means for this.
If the soul seeks deliverance for the love of God, it will seek with patience,
gentleness, humility, and calmness, waiting on God's providence rather than
relying on its own initiative, exertion, and diligence. If it seeks from self-love, it is
eager and excited and relying on self rather than God.
Anxiety comes from an irregulated desire to be delivered from the evil we
experience. Therefore, above all else, calm and compose your mind. Gently and
quietly pursue your aim.
Saint Francis de Sales, from Daily Readings with Saint Francis de Sales
The highest degree of meekness consists in seeing, serving, honoring, and treating
amiably, on occasion, those who are not to our taste, and who show themselves
unfriendly, ungrateful, and troublesome to us.
Saint Francis de Sales
Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for
without being seen, they are present with you.
Saint Francis De Sales
The virtue of patience is the one which most assures us of perfection.
Saint Francis De Sales
To be pleased at correction and reproofs shows that one loves the virtues which
are contrary to those faults for which he is corrected and reproved. And, therefore,
it is a great sign of advancement in perfection.
Saint Francis de Sales
Two mistakes I find common among spiritual persons. One is that they ordinarily
measure their devotion by the consolations and satisfactions which they
experience in the way of God, so that if these happen to be wanting, they think
they have lost all devotion. No, this is no more than a sensible devotion. True and
substantial devotion does not consist in these things, but in having a will resolute,
active, ready and constant not to offend God, and to perform all that belongs to
His service. The other mistake is that if it ever happens to them to do anything
with repugnance and weariness, they believe they have no merit in it. On the other
hand, there is then far greater merit; so that a single ounce of good done thus by a
sheer spiritual effort, amidst darkness and dullness and without interest, is worth
more than a hundred pounds done with great facility and sweetness, since the
former requires a stronger and purer love. And how great so ever may be the
aridities and repugnance of the sensible part of our soul, we ought never to lose
courage, but pursue our way as travelers treat the barking of dogs.
Saint Francis de Sales
Our greatest fault is that we wish to serve God in our way, not in His wayaccording to our will, not according to His will. When He wishes us to be sick, we
wish to be well; when He desires us to serve Him by sufferings, we desire to serve
Him by works; when He wishes us to exercise charity, we wish to exercise
humility; when He seeks from us resignation, we wish for devotion, a spirit of
prayer or some other virtue. And this is not because the things we desire may be
more pleasing to Him, but because they are more to our taste. This is certainly the
greatest obstacle we can raise to our own perfection, for it is beyond doubt that if
we were to wish to be Saints according to our own will, we shall never be so at
all. To be truly a Saint, it is necessary to be one according to the will of God.
Saint Francis de Sales
All the science of the Saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer.
And whoever had done these two things best, has made himself most saintly.
Saint Francis de Sales
The greatest fault among those who have a good will is that they wish to be
something they cannot be, and do not wish to be what they necessarily must be.
They conceive desires to do great things for which, perhaps, no opportunity may
ever come to them, and meantime neglect the small which the Lord puts into their
hands. There are a thousand little acts of virtue, such as bearing with the
importunities and imperfections of our neighbors, not resenting an unpleasant
word or a trifling injury, restraining an emotion of anger, mortifying some little
affection, some ill-regulated desire to speak or listen, excusing indiscretion, or
yielding to another in trifles. These things are to be done by all; why not practice
them. The occasions for great gains come but rarely, but of little gains many can
be made each day; and by managing these little gains with judgement, there are
some who grow rich. Oh, how holy and rich in merits we should make ourselves,
if we but knew how to profit by the opportunities which our vocation supplies to
us! Yes, yes, let us apply ourselves to follow well the path which is close before
us, and to do well on the first opportunity, without occupying ourselves with
thoughts of the last, and thus we shall make good progress.
Saint Francis de Sales
To be perfect in one's vocation is nothing else than to perform the duties and
offices to which one is obliged, solely for the honor and love of God, referring to
His glory. Whoever works in this manner may be called perfect in his state, a man
according to the heart and will of God.
Saint Francis de Sales
A servant of God signifies one who has a great charity towards his neighbor and
an inviolable resolution to follow in everything the Divine Will; who bears with
his own deficiencies, and patiently supports the imperfections of others.
Saint Francis de Sales
The person who possesses Christian meekness is affectionate and tender towards
everyone: He is disposed to forgive and excuse the frailties of others; the
goodness of his heart appears in a sweet affability that influences his words and
actions, presents every object to his view in the most charitable and pleasing light.
Saint Francis
Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set
about remedying them.
Saint Francis de Sales
Consider all the past as nothing, and say, like David: Now I begin to love my
God.
Saint Francis de Sales
One of the things that keep us at a distance from perfection is, without a doubt,
our tongue. For when one has gone so far as to commit no faults in speaking, the
Holy Spirit Himself assures us that he is perfect. And since the worst way of
speaking is to speak too much, speak little and well, little and gently, little and
simply, little and charitably, little and amiably.
Saint Francis de Sales
It should be our principal business to conquer ourselves and, from day to day, to
go on increasing in strength and perfection. Above all, however, it is necessary for
us to strive to conquer our little temptations, such as fits of anger, suspicions,
jealousies, envy, deceitfulness, vanity, attachments, and evil thoughts. For in this
way we shall acquire strength to subdue greater ones.
Saint Francis de Sales
There is nothing which edifies others so much as charity and kindness, by which,
as by the oil in our lamp, the flame of good example is kept alive.
Saint Francis de Sales
When God the Creator made all things, he commanded the plants to bring forth
fruit each according to its own kind. He has likewise commanded Christians, who
are the living plants of his Church, to bring forth the fruits of devotion, each one
in accord with his character, his station, and his calling,
I say that devotion must be practiced in different ways by the noblemen and by
the working man, by the servant and by the prince, by the widow, by the
unmarried girl and by the married woman. But even this distinction is not
sufficient; for the practice of devotion must be adapted to the strength, to the
occupation and to the duties of each one in particular.
Moreover, just as every sort of gem, cast in honey, becomes brighter and more
sparkling, each according to its color, so each person becomes more acceptable
and fitting in his own vocation when he sets his vocation in the context of
devotion. Through devotion your family cares become more peaceful, mutual love
between husband and wife becomes more sincere, the service we owe to the
prince becomes more faithful, and our work, no matter what it is, becomes more
pleasant and agreeable.
from Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales
How displeasing to God are rash judgments! The judgments of the children of
men are rash because they usurp the office of Our Lord, the just Judge. They are
rash because the principal malice of sin depends on the intention and the counsel
of the heart, and these are hidden things not known to human judges. They are
rash because every person has things that could be judged, and, indeed, on which
one should judge oneself.
On the cross our Savior could not entirely excuse the sin of those who crucified
him, but he extenuated the malice by pleading their ignorance. When we cannot
excuse a sin, let us at least make it worthy of compassion by attributing the most
favorable cause we can to it, such as ignorance or weakness. We can never pass
judgment on our neighbor.
from Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales
As often as you can during the day, recall your mind to the presence of God....
Consider what God is doing, what you are doing. You will always find God's eyes
fixed on you in unchangeable love.
Our hearts should each day seek a resting-place on Calvary or near our Lord, in
order to retire there to rest from worldly cares and to find strength against
temptation.
Remember frequently to retire into the solitude of your heart, even while you are
externally occupied in business or society. This mental solitude need not be
hindered even though many people may be around you, for they surround your
body not your heart, which should remain alone in the presence of God. As David
said, "My eyes are ever looking at the Lord."
We are rarely so taken up in our exchanges with others as to be unable from time
to time to move our hearts into solitude with God.
Saint Francis de Sales
Our profit does not depend so much on mortifying ourselves, as upon knowing
how to mortify ourselves; that is, upon knowing how to chose the best
mortifications, which are those most repugnant to our natural inclinations. Some
are inclined to disciplines and fasts, and though they may be difficult things, they
embrace them with fervor, and practice them gladly and easily, on account of this
leaning which they have toward them. But then they will be so sensitive in regard
to reputation and honor, that the least ridicule, disapproval, or slight is sufficient
to throw them into a state of impatience and perturbation and to give rise to such
complaints as show an equal want of peace and reason. These are the
mortifications which they ought to embrace with the greatest readiness, if they
wish to make progress.
Saint Francis de Sales
The greater part of Christians usually practice incision instead of circumcision.
They will make a cut indeed in a diseased part but as for employing the knife of
circumcision, to take away whatever is superfluous from the heart, few go so far.
Saint Francis de Sales
Undertake all of your duties with a calm mind and try to do them one at a time. If
you try to do them all at once, or without order, your spirits will be so
overcharged and depressed that they will likely sink under the burden and nothing
will be done.
In all of your affairs, rely on the Providence of God through which alone you
much look for success. Strive quietly to cooperate with its designs. If you have a
sure trust in God, the success that comes to you will always be that which is most
useful to you, whether it appears good or bad in your private judgment.
Think of the little children who with one hand hold fast to their father while with
the other they gather berries. If you handle the goods of this world with one hand,
you must also always hold fast with the other to your heavenly Father's hand, and
turn toward him from time to time to see if you are pleasing him. Above all, be
sure that you never leave his hand and his protection, thinking that with your own
two hands you can gather more or get some other advantage.
Saint Francis de Sales, from Introduction to the Devout Life
We must intend our own salvation in the way God intends it.
God desires that we should be saved. We too need constantly to desire what God desires.
God not only means us to be saved, but actually dives us all we need to achieve salvation.
So we are not to stop at merely desiring salvation, but go a step further and accept all the
graces God has prepared for us, the graces constantly offered to us. It is all very well to
say, "I want to be saved." It is not must use merely saying, "I want to take the necessary
steps." We must actually take the steps. We need to make a definite resolution to take and
use the graces God holds out to us. Our wills must be in tune with God's. Because God
wants us to be saved, we should want to be saved. We should also welcome the means to
salvation that God intends us to take....that is why general acts of devotion and prayer
should always be followed by particular resolutions.
Saint Francis de Sales
Submitted by Charlene Rack – DTS Chapter Leader at Old Saint Mary’s Church, Cincinnati,
Ohio
Sources for this teaching: Saint Francis de Sales; Patron of Catholic Writers - by Katherine
Bregy; Modern Catholic Dictionary; web site - www.catholic-forum.com/saints/indexsnt.htm