st francis de sales writings

Ironically, some of our greatest pain comes not from suffering itself, but from our attempts - at all costs - to avoid suffering. The St. Francis de Sales Association was founded in France in 1872. Typically, at these moments, we hold others to incredible standards while granting ourselves absolution. "(C IV 1), How often have we said something for the sake of having something to say, only to have it backfire? When turning to the Eucharist, he describes it as “the most holy, sacred and sovereign sacrifice and Sacrament of the Eucharist, the very center point of our Christian religion, the heart of all devotion, the soul of piety; the ineffable mystery that embraces the whole depth of divine love, by which God, giving himself really to us, conveys all his graces and favors to men with royal magnificence.”. "(In I 2)"Devotion spoils nothing when it is true.Quite the contrary, it perfectsEverything. "(In III 1)"Comets appear to be larger than stars and morefanfare is generally made of them.Yet, they are not comparable to stars either in sizeor in quality and only seem more spectacularbecause they are closer. Words can injure and tear down. Gently. These sayings from St. Francis de Sales have been gleaned from his collected letters, homilies, conferences and publications. From how we look, how we dress, what we drive, where we work, with whom we relate, we need to be without fault, blemish or imperfection. "(T IX 7)"Not only is God always in the place where you are,but God is in a very special mannerin the depths of your spirit. Ironically, the greatest obstacle to this process of growth is the refusal to acknowledge the fact that we are imperfect. So too when charitywaters one's soul, it produces virtuousworks there, but each in its season. As I have written once before, joy will keep us afloat in desperate times, and joy will help us combat the anxiety about which St. Francis warns us so sternly. Devotion is that spirit that inspires us to love God, ourselves and one another in a lively, enthusiastic and energetic manner. A healthy spirituality views perfection more as a process than a product. After all, they are many things in life - our family, our friends, our livelihood, our health, our dreams - that are important to us. He also discusses how we should receive Christ in this most holy sacrament: Begin your preparation overnight, by various aspirations and loving brief prayers…In the morning rise with joyful expectation of the blessing you hope for, and (having made your confession) go with the fullest trust, but at the same time with the fullest humility, to receive that heavenly food that will sustain your immortal life. In our own age of rampant Eucharistic abuses, we could certainly use more preachers speaking of the Blessed Sacrament with the same reverence and awe with which St. Francis was writing. The fourth counsels deal with combating temptation and achieving peace of mind and heart. The one who fasts,for instance, will believehe is devout simply because he fasts, even if his heart is fullof hatred. "(LR VI 28), Unlike other types of activities, gossip and slander are games that everyone can play. "(In 4 9)"Reflect sometimes on what are yourdominating temptations.After discovering them, adopt a way of life contraryTo them in thoughts, words and deeds. Still another person will pardon easilybut refuses to pay his creditors unlesscompelled to do so by law.All these persons may pass for being "devout" butthey are nevertheless not so. Born: 1567 Died: 1622 Beatified: 1661 by … When Francis […] "(In III 30)"To speak little does not consist inuttering few words, butin not speaking useless ones. Though any of these writings would be excellent to pick up and work your way through, I highly recommend starting with Introduction to the Devout Life. St. Francis de Sales is known for a classic book titled An Introduction to the Devout Life. "(In 4 8)"It may be very easy not to steal the goods of others, butdifficult to refrain from envy and covetousness.It may be very easy not to bear false witness in a court of law butDifficult not to tell lies in conversation. A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as one who fears God finds." I highly encourage pairing this section with Josef Pieper’s short work, Leisure: the Basis of Culture. He is often featured with the Heart of Jesus and a Crown of Thorns. Mass at St. Francis de Sales is lived streamed each Sunday. "(LR I 6)"Those who can preserve gentleness amid pains,and peace amid the worry andmultitude of affairs,is almost perfect. Temptations are those urgings, feelings, thoughts, inclinations or impulses that invite us or entice us to do what is wrong, or to fail to do what is good. "(In III 29)"When I must speak up about another personI must do so in so balanced and just a way that I do not utterone word too many. "(T VIII 14)"We must do all by love, and nothing by force. Works of the Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi – pdf, text, epub, kindle format. Please help us to meet our expenses by donating today! All of the above? However, we are called to love, and if we are willing to love, then we must be willing to suffer - to bear with our limitations, frustrations, imperfections, disappointments, heartaches - and those of others. "(In III 10)"You must choose: is it better that there shouldbe thorns in your garden in order to have roses,or that there should be no roses in your gardenin order to have no thorns? (Sirach 6:14-16) What a blessing to be blessed by - and with - true friends. Rutler Weigh Heavily on Beleaguered Catholics, 1P5 Podcast Archive (Video or Audio-Only), The Top 40: A Traditional Catholic Reading List, fear of judgment is the way of the saints, joy will keep us afloat in desperate times. "(In III 3)God's will is as much in sicknessAs it is in health. Remember: "a sad saint is a sorry saint." "Slander is a kind of murder. "(In I 2)"No matter where we arewe must aspire to aperfect life. Here we see a Doctor of the Church telling us that we are expected to have prepared ourselves to receive the Eucharist the night before, and to have confessed our sins before receiving Holy Communion in our mouths, not our hands. "(LR I 8)"Friendship requires the exchange of good, not evil. p. 88. as much as we think it necessary to say to overthrow these allegations. Simply put, devotion is that attitude that enables us to practice the commands and Councils of God frequently, carefully and promptly. "(LR II 29)"You must lovingly leave some workto others, and not seek to haveall the crowns. "(LW II 10)"We must sometimes take a step backwardin order to better spring forward. As I hope this brief overview of the thought of St. Francis de Sales demonstrates, the Doctors of the Church and the early Church Fathers should be frequent resource in our combat against modernism in all its forms and the crisis not just within the Church, but within our own ability to truly be faithful to God, especially in these difficult times. "(T XII 6)"Wheresoever we are, we canand should aspire to a perfect life. (In 4 10), Living a life of devotion should not remove us from the events, responsibilities and circumstances of daily living. At that time the religious and political struggles of the time had placed under the control of Roman Catholic rulers several regions in which the people were mostly Protestants. Flowers from the Garden of Saint Francis for Every Day of the Year – audiobook. Words can heal and raise up. Francis de Sales was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Catholic Church. "(In III 29)"Whoever removes slander from the worldwould remove a great part of its sinsand injustice as well. "(LW II 10)"Take care of your health that it mayserve you to serve God. "(In III 8)"You must not only have a kind wordfor your neighbors and for strangers, but also for the peoplewith whom you live and your closest friends. Among his most famous writings are his many letters, Introduction to the Devout Life, and his tracts or pamphlets which were aimed chiefly at defending the authority of the Church, which had come under such grave attack in the 16th century. Saint Francis de Sales. This is a simple command to us to set our lives in the example of Jesus our Lord and Redeemer. In times like these, the “virtuous speech” counseled by St. Francis de Sales in his Introduction to the Devout Life is downright countercultural (Part III, 26-30). "(In III 29)"There are some who, before actually slandering someone,will say something good about that person.These are the most subtle and venomous of slanderers. "(C IV 2)"Since the goodness of God is so greatthat one single moment suffices to obtainand receive God's grace, what assurancecan we have that a person who was a sinneryesterday is a sinner today? Rather, striving to live devoutly provides us with a divine perspective that enables us to more fully embrace these same events, responsibilities and circumstances. They challenge us; they support us; they correct us; they heal us; they forgive us; they journey with us. January 24. "If the ecstasy of love be more beautiful than good,more bright than warm, morespeculative than affective, it is deservingof suspicion. "Perfection does not lie in avoidingthe world, but in not clinging to it. "(In III 8)"Correction is naturally bitter,but when mixed with the sugar of lovingkindness, and warmed by the fire of charity,it becomes more acceptable, graciousand even cordial. "(In III 1)"Concerning those virtues pertaining to our dutiesin life, preference must be given to those whichare most effective, not those whichmay be the most showy. "(In III 5)"Those who believe themselves to be far advancedin the spiritual life have not even made a good beginning. "(C VIII)"Do not sow a crop of good intentionsin your neighbor's gardenbut cultivate your own with diligence. And after having said the sacred words, “Lord, I am not worthy,” do not make any further movement whatever, either in prayer or otherwise, but gently opening your mouth, in the fullness of faith, hope, and love, receive him in whom, by whom, and through whom you believe, hope, and love. Saint Francis de Sales; Feast Day of St. Francis de Sales; The Oblates; Salesian Spirituality ; Campus Ministry; Mass, Homilies & Reflections; Leadership. Like many of his contemporaries trying to counter the Protestant Reformation, his writings were aimed at clarity, brevity, and logic, because the words were meant to be heard in sermons or read by the people whose doors he would knock on at any time of day. If we are truthful about ourselves then we will treat ourselves and one another in a manner which is truthful. This 17th century classic is a proven spiritual guide for living an authentic Christian life. "(LR II 18)"It is absolutely necessaryfor friendship that mutuality should existbetween the two who love each other. "Those who look well after their own consciencesrarely fall into the sin of judging others. "(LE VI 19), "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." "(Tr VIII 13)"When God's will is shown clearly to usthrough divine ordinances and commandments,there is nothing further to deliberate onfor we must simply do what has been ordained.But for all other things it is in our libertyto choose what seems goodaccording to our preferences. "(LR III 19)"Those who acknowledge the truth about themselvesIn humility are happy to discover othersWho agree with them. VI. Francis de Sales is the author of various collections of sermons on Mary, Lent, prayer and Christmastide, as well as a work entitled Set Your Heart Free, edited by John Kirvan. "For fear," replied the hunter,"that is remaining taut like that, it would have no force at allwhen I needed to use it." His father sent him to a good school when he was young, and he received spiritual formation from the Jesuits. "(In I 2), What is God asking of me at this moment? "(LW VI 12)"We must not fear fear. In late 1608, St. Francis de Sales, the Catholic Bishop of Geneva, published his first edition of the Introduction to the Devout Life. "(In III 29), Humility is one of the two great pillars of Salesian Spirituality. Email address / Correo electrónico - [email protected] The Diocese of Las Vegas offers a televised Mass each Sunday at 7:30 am on KFBT-TV (Cox Channel 6). He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation. Problems arise when we cling to a "favorite" virtue at a time when a different one is required. "(T VII 7)"The secret of secrets in prayeris to follow attractions in simplicity of heart. He was known as a spiritually understanding man as well as a friend of the poor. This love is strengthened through the celebration of sacraments, the practice of prayer, and a union of our will with God's will in even the most ordinary aspects of life. "(LR I 2)"The one who can preservegentleness amid pains, and peaceamid the worry and multitude of daily life,is almost perfect. G iven the growing challenges now facing Christians, a valuable source to turn to, for wisdom and strength, is St. Francis de Sales. As St. Francis de Sales pictures it, the priest is the “angel whom God sends” to make this forgiveness real and enable divine reconciliation to be experienced. Living to extremes--either extreme - generally does little to promote lasting health, happiness or holiness. "(T VII 6)When we see a soul that has rapturesin prayer without ecstasy in life,these raptures are exceedingly doubtful and dangerous. Examining the lives of others fullof hatred not describing the priest’s personal character LR I 2,! Heart of Jesus and a renowned spiritual director resulting from the Garden of Francis! More likely to treat others in the example of Jesus our Lord and Redeemer be sweet temptationswe can offend... 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A senatorial family where he was destined to work in government positions of authority or holiness prepare... Francis teaches us to meet our expenses by donating today consists of knowing when where. Today and his father disagreed fiercely about his st francis de sales writings calling but eventually, 1593! Offers to you when he was known for his gentleness and his observations the.

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