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Post by Hildegard on Jul 24, 2020 18:27:29 GMT
Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers
July 24th (page 213)
We must take two equally strong resolutions into our hear: one is to resign ourselves to seeing noxious weeds growing in the garden of our soul; and the other is to keep trying to get rid of them. While we are in this life our self-love will not die, and it is just this that produces these nasty plants. Rest assured that is not a great disorder to commit some venial fault, provided we immediately return to God, humbling ourselves gently. You must not think you can live without sin, because only the blessed virgin had this privilege. These small faults, even though they make you stumble for a moment, should not cause you to deviate from the path of perfection; a simple glance of your soul toward God is enough to make up for them. (Spiritual Treatises IX; O. VI, p. 154)
On July 24th, 1604, without intending it, Francis de Sales described the charming simplicity of his heart, writing to Mother Chantal: “No, in all truth, my dear daughters, I am not simple, but it is marvelous with how much devotion I love simplicity. Is it not true that the little white doves are better than snakes? Well, if we have to unite the qualities of the one with the other, we would not want to give to the serpent the simplicity of the dove, because the serpent would always be a serpent. But I would willingly give the prudence of the serpent to the dove, because that would not alter its beauty.” (A.S. VII, p. 578)
In our conversations we should treat one another with fairness. See that you speak only when necessary, giving others an opportunity to speak.
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Post by Hildegard on Jul 26, 2020 17:51:50 GMT
Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers
July 25th (page 214)
Perseverance is the most desirable gift we can hope for in this life; we can receive it only from the hand of God, for He alone can strengthen the weak and raise up those who fall. For this reason, we must unceasingly ask for perseverance through those means that God has provided for obtaining it: prayer, fasting, almsgiving, frequenting the sacraments, association with good companions, hearing and reading Holy Scripture. This precious gift does not come from our own power, yet it should be the object of desire by our will. It is likewise true that the grace of God is necessary to will to persevere, but heavenly grace is never lacking to those who really want to do good. (T.L.G. Book 3, Ch. 4; O. IV, p. 182)
“Oh, my dear daughter,” Francis de Sales wrote on July 15th, 1621, “how it saddens my heart when I consider the effects of human prudence on those souls about whom you write to me. According to them, it must be taken for granted that the establishment of religious houses should be done under the guidance of human wisdom. As to the building of the walls and other material parts of the convents, I think it should be so. But as regards vocations, the union of the souls who are called and their increase, these are supernatural things or they worth nothing. We are too taken up with human considerations and human prudence in these matters, which belong solely to the domain of God’s grace. The poor have always had God’s blessing and increase, such as Liah, Anna and others. Therefore, my dear daughter, you must live in a spirit of peace, humility and genuine love, without complaining or even opening your lips. Oh, if we could only succeed in having a spirit of perfect dependence on the fatherly care of God for our congregation, we would see with joy flowers growing in other gardens and bless the Lord as if they were ours. What difference does it make to truly loving soul if the heavenly Spouse is served in this way or that way? She who seeks solely to please here Beloved is happy with all that makes Him happy. Believe me: the good that is truly good does not fear any diminishment by the increase of good in any other situation or place. Let us really serve God, and let us not say, “Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment?” [cf. Mt 6:25] This preoccupation belongs to the Father of the house. And you know quite well that our houses belong to God and His holy mother.” (A.S. VII p. 601)
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Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers
July 26th (page 215)
Try to nourish within yourself the spirit of gentleness, of holy joy and humility, which is the most apt path toward union with God. Do not get upset about this or that but walk in the way of union with great confidence in the mercy of God, Who will lead you by the hand right to your heavenly home. In the meantime, keep well clear of arguments and avoidable disputes. (Letters 98; O. XXVI, p. 168)
On July 26th, 1597, Francis de Sales observed that by the grace of God the Catholic religion in the Chablais was making progress to such an extent that he and his cousin Louis could not adequately supply all the religious services. Hence, he travelled to Annecy, where, in a synod convoked by the bishop, he gave a most accurate account of the mission and made a fervent appeal for fresh workers in this field of the Lord. In view of the abundant and ripe harvest, he was given several Dominicans, Capuchins and Jesuits, for whom he personally made an appeal in the houses at Montmélian, Lyons and Chambéry. On this same day in 1606, while Francis de Sales was making his pastoral visitation to the Church of Saint James at Sallanches, he stopped and had a long talk with a young gentleman, about twenty-five years of age, who wanted to go to confession to the saintly pastor. He cried with so much sorrow over his sins that the holy bishop shed tears with him, a sight that stirred the compassion of all in the church. Some impatient people commented to the bishop that the confession was lasting too long, and many people were leaving. After that complaint had been sharply repeated several times, the holy prolate, drying his eyes, replied in a loud voice, “Ah! Have bit of patience! It is better that ninety-nine sheep should suffer a little than that this man miss the opportunity to return to God.” He calmly finished the confession and then embraced the young man like a father, with so much tenderness that many were heard to say, “Here is the father of the prodigal son!” That young man then accompanied the holy pastor from parish to parish for several days. His conversion was an outstanding example for all the provinces and brought much honor to his own family. (A.S. VII, p. 621)
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Post by Hildegard on Jul 28, 2020 0:44:09 GMT
Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers
July 27th (page 216)
It is terrible temptation to be saddened and all upset because you have to remain in this world, when you must do so out of necessity. Divine Providence is wiser than we are. To us it may seem the better thing to change ships. Yes, by all means, provided we change our conduct! How much we are victims of these dangerous and evil desires! On these occasions, even when what we desire is good in itself, it becomes an evil because God does not want us to possess that good at this present time, but something else, to give us a chance to exercise our virtue. The Lord wishes to speak to us amid thorns and briars, as He did to Moses, and we instead want Him to talk to us amid pleasant, fresh breezes, as He did to Elijah.
(Letters 512; O. XIV, pp. 120-121)
On July 27th, 1606, Francis de Sales, on pastoral visitation, went to the parishes of Saint Andrew and Saint Gervasius. He was so happy with the people of both places that he said, “Blessed be the Lord, Who gives us such parishes, so good that I have nothing to do here.” Continuing his apostolic journey through the narrow tracks and peaks of those rugged mountains, the saintly bishop was to visit on the following day two churches dedicated to the Madonna, which were called, because of their location, Our Lady of the Gorge and Our Lady of Brain. A certain person who wanted to tease him by joking about these titles said sarcastically that on the next day the bishop would visit Mrs. X (this was a woman noted for her learning and loquacity). The saint heard of this, and was so upset by the lack of respect for the mother of God that he forgot his usual kindly manner and publicly and forcefully reprimanded the facetious person, ordering her to offer a candle of white wax to each of the two churches as an act of reparation to the Madonna, “who is”, he said, “the protectress of the thoughts, the brain, the eyes, the heart and all that we have both for the soul and the body.” The same person, so strongly corrected, later told of this episode at the process of canonization of Francis de Sales. (A.S. VII, p. 652)
To love and venerate Mary means to honor her in God and God in her, So that He is the goal and object of all such love and veneration.
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Post by Hildegard on Jul 28, 2020 1:12:48 GMT
Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers
July 28th (page 217)
A father’s gentle, loving rebuke has far greater power in correcting a child than rage and passion and brings about an improvement. So too, those who have committed some fault are best corrected by a gentle and mild explanation of what they have done wrong. We show more compassion for the wrongdoers by trying to convince them of the need of amendment than by a show of anger against them. Repentance obtained in this way will sink far deeper and penetrate more effectually than an angry, stormy condemnation. (INT. Part III, Ch. 9; O. III, p. 167)
On July 28th, 1597, Francis de Sales returned to the Chablais and sent Father Spirito da Beaume, a zealous Capuchin of the parish of Annemasse, to prepare for the solemn celebration of the Forty Hours to be held in that parish, beginning with the elevation, at the entrance to the city of Geneva, of a large cross that had been destroyed by the Protestants. The church of Annemasse was all in ruins and deserted, and major repairs were necessary to restore it. The fervent Capuchin set to work with great zeal. Meanwhile, the saint begged his brother Louis de Sales, a man highly qualified in letters and piety, to compose a short poem in French about the sacrifice of Abraham, to be recited by the young people who would come for the solemn exposition of the Forty Hours. “The representation of sacred history,” he said, “would be impressed on the memory of those present with a certain sweet unction and would not easily be forgotten.” In the meantime, the Jesuits and Dominicans were occupied in the neighborhood of Ternier and elsewhere. So, after working on his own in that uncultivated land, he finally had the satisfaction of observing great progress, and was overjoyed to see these tireless workers. (A.S. VII, p. 684)
A great fear of death is not a sin. However, it can so trouble the heart that it prevents a person from uniting himself or herself lovingly with God.
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Post by Hildegard on Jul 29, 2020 0:41:29 GMT
Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers
July 29th (page 216)
Be careful and attentive to all the matters of God has committed to your care, but if possible do not be solicitous or worried; that is, do not burden yourself over them with uneasiness or anxiety. This worry only disturbs reason and good judgment and prevent you from doing well the very things you are worried about . . . A job done anxiously and hurriedly is never done well; we must do things with coolness and calm. (INT. Part III, Ch. 10; O. III, pp. 169-170)
One cannot imagine how great was Francis de Sales’s devotion to the glorious Saint Martha, the hostess of Christ. He received much inspiration from the chapters in the Gospels that deal with that saint, and once he wrote to Mother Chantal that on the day devoted to Saint Martha (July 29) he found himself in spirit in the house of that servant of the Lord. “I saw her,” he said, “very busy taking care of the needs of Our Lord, but a bit jealous when she thought of the happiness that her sister was experiencing at the Lord’s feet. Do you know how you would have solved the problem? You would have wanted our patroness to replace her sister at the feet of Jesus and have her go off to prepare the meal! In this way, as good sisters, they would have shared between themselves both repose and work. I think that the Lord would have approved this arrangement. And it seems to me that Martha would have done wrong to leave the Lord on His own, since He had come into the world, not to live a solitary life but to mix with the children of men.” The saintly bishop always had the idea of giving the religious of his institute the title of Daughters of Saint Martha, because they were founded to serve the poor. But since this did not come about, he often said that Saint Martha, always active, had performed a deep act of reverence for the Madonna, like a good and respectful servant, and so he gave her the title of Mother of the Daughters of the Visitation. (A.S. VII, p. 722)
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Post by Hildegard on Jul 30, 2020 22:28:29 GMT
Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers
July 30th (page 219)
With gentleness and peace, make your small efforts to better serve the Divine Goodness, but do not be frightened by the difficulties that crop up. What good, what precious thing has ever been obtained without effort and hard work? On our part, it is only necessary to remain faithful to our resolution to reach the perfection of holy love by doing all we can to make it perfect. If we do not do that we are not aiming very high. (Letters 1324; O. XVIII, p. 35)
On every occasion the angelic soul of our saint was admirable in its openness to all that happened to him. He liked to be ready to accept with equal willingness the sweet and the sour, repose and hard work, life and death. This was so remarkable in him that he did not know which of the alternatives to accept unless the will of God was manifestly evident. Then he would embrace it immediately. All that happened to him he accepted with joy, without complaint, repugnance or contradiction from the inferior part of his soul – No “perhaps” or “yes but.” As the waters of Siloe, which according to Scripture ran so quietly that it was impossible to gauge the direction of the flow, so the conformity of our saint to the Divine Will was manifested in him with so much sweetness and gentleness that you could not perceive even the slightest contrary motion. And how could there be in him any internal rebellion or contrariness if his rational appetite was lost, absorbed, drowned in the purest will of God? Oh! Everything in that soul lived in such deep peace because he had no will of his own, but left it up to God to work His will in him and through him. (A.S. VIII, p. 739)
Every one of our brothers and sisters has his or her place at the breast of The Savior. Who would have the heart not to love and support the imperfections Of those who find themselves in such a holy place?
God is never so well served as when He is served according to His holy will.
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Post by Hildegard on Jul 31, 2020 19:15:56 GMT
Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers
July 31st (page 220)
The great saints took such keen delight in little acts of simplicity and humility in order to hide themselves and defend themselves from vainglory. Such acts were found more pleasing in God’s sight than the great and famous deeds of many others, performed with little love of God. It is said that the sacred spouse attracts her Beloved with a single one of her hairs; this is because seemingly very trifling deeds are highly pleasing to the Divine Majesty, and so capture divine love. (T.L.G. Book 11, Ch. 5; O. V, p. 252)
On Many occasions Francis de Sales gave evidence of his devotion to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. Often, even before that saint’s canonization, Francis went from Annecy to Chambéry expressly to preach in his honor on the days on which the Jesuit Fathers commemorated him. He used to say that he acquired and nurtured this devotion at the College of Clermont in Paris, then in Padua and finally in Rome. There he found a very special pleasure in visiting the tomb of the saint, and happily drank at the source the great spirit of fervor, zeal and piety that God had infused into the soul of Saint Ignatius and his companions. Francis read his writings and his life with great pleasure, profiting from them in the service of God and the Church. On July 31st, 1619, he gave the panegyric in the church of the Jesuits in Paris. Father P. Binet recounted in this respect that, going personally to ask him to give this sermon, he had said to him, “My Lord, I come to ask you to preach for the feast of our Blessed Father, on the condition that you will not preach a second time on that day.” The saintly prelate smiled and answered, “Truly, my father, you wrong the blessed and the preacher with this restriction that you want to impose on me: the blessed, because the subject is so rich that it provides material for many sermons; the preacher, because you deprive me of the opportunity of preaching and of filling the hearts and spirits of the people of God with the maxims and virtues of Blessed Ignatius.” (A.S. VIII, p. 765)
We have a natural inclination to give commands and an aversion to obey. Yet how much more useful it is to obey than to command.
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