Every Day with St. Francis de Sales for October
Oct 11, 2020 21:25:05 GMT
Post by Hildegard on Oct 11, 2020 21:25:05 GMT
Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers
Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales
THE TITLE: Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales (changed from the Italian Buon Giorno . . . Teachings and Examples from the Life of Saint Francis de Sales). This replaced the previous title and subtitle: Saint Francis de Sales in Teachings and Example . . . A sacred Diary Extracted from His Life and Works by the Vistandines of Rome. This title was taken from the first edition (Ferrari, Rome, 1953).
CONTENT AND STRUCTURE: Every page contains a thought from the works of Saint Francis de Sales and a brief account of some event of his life which took place on that date. The first taken from the Oeuvres d'Annecy with an indication of volume and page and then the work form which the passage has been taken (e.g. Sermons, Treatises, Letters). As far as the two major woks are concerned, the book or part and chapter have been added, for further clarification. This will allow the reader to refer to the passages for personal consultation or greater understanding. The anecdotes have been taken from the work Anne Sainte, with an indication of both volume and page. Because of the brevity of the selections chosen, we have added a maxim taken from a book by an anonymous author, Massime di S. Francesco di Sales (Salesian Press, Milan, 1929).
TEXT AND FORMAT: The Italian revision of the book made necessary the rereading of the selections chosen and a comparison with the original French. Every effort has been made to keep the gentle tone of Saint Francis de Sales.
ABBREVIATIONS AND REFERENCES:
A.S. Année Sainte des Religieuse de la Visitation Sainte Marie, (12 vol. ed.)
D.S. Diario Sacré extracted from his life and works, compiled by the Visitandines of Rome. (Ed. Ferrari, Rome 1953)
INT. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life
Hamon P. Hamon, Vie de St. Francois de Sales, (2 vol., Paris 1854)
O. Oeuvres de St. Francois de Sales, publiees par lessouis des Religieuses de la Visitation du Premier Monastere d'Annecy (26 vol. , Annecy 1892-1932)
SOL. Francis de Sales, Meditazioni per la Solitudine
T.L.G. Francis de Sales, Treatise on the Love of God
Please note: If you buy the book, the bible quotes are not from the Douay Reims, in putting these meditations online for The Catacombs, I have changed the Bible Quotes to reflect the Douay Reims Bible.
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October 1st (page 282)
What a sad thing it is to see that most people never even bother to think about the reason for their existence, but live as if they believe themselves created only to build houses, plant trees, cultivate the garden, pile up wealth or do frivolous things. Consider your own past life. Say, “Lord, what was I thinking of when I was not thinking of Thee? Whom did I love when I was not loving Thee? I should have fed upon the truth, but I glutted myself with vanity and served the world instead of serving the truth.”
(INT. Part 1, Ch. 10; O. III, p. 37)
On October 1st, 1598, at the opening of the second Forty Hours in the city of Thonon, Cardinal de Medici, papal legate, and the duke of Savoy were in attendance. Francis de Sales gave his second sermon on the words of Scripture, “It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing.” The words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and life.,” [Jn 6:64] explaining the text in a manner that held all spellbound. He had as his listeners not only the two princes but a large number of bishops, prelates, superiors of orders and outstanding members of the nobility. All admired how he spoke in praise of the Blessed Eucharist in such a learned and devout manner. After this, he presented to the papal legate the minister Petot, one of his converts. Many gentlemen of the Chablais abjured their heresy, and all received absolution from the cardinal. The ceremony closed with a solemn Te Deum. These magnificent manifestations of faith took place in the Church of Saint Hippolytus and were followed by a Pontifical Mass sung by the bishop of Geneva, after which there was a procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Thonon to the Church of Saint Augustine, where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for the Forty Hours. Toward evening, processions arrived from the various parishes converted by the saint. They were so numerous that the cardinal was astounded, and the duke of Savoy was happy because of the success of the mission. He kept saying to those around him, “See! The provost of Sales is the apostle and father of all this great crowd of people.” Francis, however, who wanted no glory but the glory of the Church, remained hidden by the side of his bishop, whom he willingly served as assistant priest.
(A.S. X, p. 3)
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October 2nd (page 283)
Francis de Sales had a great devotion to the guardian angel, and not only his own but those of his friends and his enemies. When he had a discussion with Protestants, he silently exorcized the demon that possessed them and invoked their guardian angels. When he was absent from his diocese, he entrusted it in a special way to the care of its guardian angel, and never forgot to greet the angels in various kingdoms, provinces and parishes which he visited. In the confessional he often invoked the penitent’s guardian angel. Even in his writings it can be seen how he recommended to his clients devotion to their angel.
(A.S. X, p. 2)
On October 2nd, 1598, Francis de Sales, continuing his efforts for the successful outcome of the Forty Hours, spent the better part of the night hearing the confessions of those who belonged to the courts of the papal legate and the duke, who wanted to prepare themselves for a general Communion on the following morning. Together with the duke, all went to Communion, and the whole day was spent in an atmosphere of great devotion. Toward evening, the Confreres of the Blessed Sacrament, founded by the holy provost, came forward all dressed in white, to carry in procession a big, heavy cross to be erected in the center of the city where the Protestants had torn down the previous one. The duke and all the bishops then visiting Thonon were present and were edified by the inspiring zeal of Francis, who helped to erect that huge cross with his own hands. Meanwhile, the blast of trumpets accompanied the singing of the Vexilla Regis. As soon as the sacred sign of our redemption was firmly planted, the duke, with his lively faith and Christian piety, fell down on his knees, venerated, embraced and kissed the cross devoutly. Then, following his example, all the bustanders did the same, amid applause and joyful shouts. The beautiful and moving ceremony went on far into the night, in the glowing light of candles and torches.
(A.S. X, p. 33)
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October 3rd (page 284)
It seems to me a shameful thing for a person to come to dies without ever having thought of death. This will be doubly shameful for those to whom God has granted a long life. Soldiers who train before they go into battle always do better than those who go rushing around looking for their arms just before the battle begins. It is a good thing to leave this world little by little, withdrawing our love for creatures bit by bit. Trees which are bent over by the wind cannot be transplanted elsewhere because they have left their roots in the ground; so we creatures who are to be transplanted to the land of the living must little by little detach our affections from this world.
(Letters 230; O. XII, pp. 329-330)
On October 3rd, 1598, Francis de Sales closed the second Forty Hours at Thonon with a magnificent discourse on the words of Our Lord, “And taking bread, he gave thanks, and brake; and gave to them, saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me.” [Lk 22:19] The papal legate was present and declared that he found in Francis de Sales a particular gift of God, because he had never heard this text explained with more depth, clarity or devotion. He was also very surprised at the great number of converts that he found in the province. Still more, marveled that the zealous provost had preached more than ten times in those three days. Francis did not have the heart to turn back the processions which arrived one after the other from every quarter to honor the Blessed Eucharist, and could not bring himself to deprive them of the bread of the Divine Word. He put himself in God’s hands, improvising when he did not have time to prepare the sermon, relying on faith and with confidence in God. The cardinal made the statement that this holy apostle had a special place in a his heart and esteem; he had never seen anything more outstanding in all the time he had been papal legate.
(A.S. X, p. 62)
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October 4th (page 284)
Let us kiss our Savior, Who grants us so many delights. Now, to kiss the Savior is to obey Him, keep His commandments, do His will and follow His desires; in brief, to embrace Him with tender obedience and fidelity. Therefore, whenever we receive any spiritual consolation, on that very day we must be more diligent in doing good and humbling ourselves.
(INT. Part IV, Ch. 13; O. III, p. 324)
There is so much that could be said about the devotion with which Francis de Sales celebrated the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, his patron. So as not to go past the limits which have been imposed on us, let us quote just this passage from his Treatise on the Love of God, where he writes so devoutly of the death of this earthly seraphim: “Speaking of heavenly love,” our saint wrote, “I always have before my eyes the great saint Francis of Assisi. He could not escape dying by love because of the multitude and grandeur of the languors, ecstasies and swoons his love for God brought him. In addition to this, God, Who had set before his view the whole world as a miracle of love, willed that he should not only die for love, but also that he should die of love. I beg Thee to consider his death. When he saw that he was on the point of departure, he asked to be laid naked upon the ground. Then, after he had received as alms a habit with which he was clothed, he exhorted his brethren and encouraged them to reverent love of God and of the Church. He had someone read the passion of the Savior, and then with much devotion he began to recite Psalm 142: [1]Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: hear me in thy justice. [2] And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified. [3] For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old: [4] And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is troubled. [5] I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I meditated upon the works of thy hands. [6] I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without water unto thee. [7] Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. [8] Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I hoped. Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my soul to thee. [Ps 142:1,8] Can anyone fail to see that this seraphic man, who had desired so greatly to be martyred and to die for love, in the end died of love?”
(A.S. X, p. 82)
We should not be so vain as to think we are as holy as the saints. Indeed, a wish to die which comes from sadness or weariness of this life is too much akin to despair.