SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES

Today is the Feast of St. Francis de Sales. Francis was a man who knew intimately the loving nature of God and wrote some wonderful explanations of it for posterity. It is very rewarding to reflect on his writings today, centuries after he wrote them. Let us pray that we will be more concerned with receiving God’s love for us and sharing it than wreaking vengeance on the lives of those towards whom we are jealous. (Kerygma)

WITHOUT ANY RESERVE

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. -St. Francis de Sales.

Give it all to God!

Many times in our lives we say, "We surrender everything to you Lord for we trust in you". This usually happens when we are in a state of experiencing problems and difficulties. When things turn out to be well again, we tend to go back to our old ways of doing things on our own.

If we are made to give up something which is of value to us, we struggle with God's Will. This kind of reservation limits us to what we have and prevents us from receiving an even more overflowing of God's graces.

Afflictions are consolations. You must first fall before you can stand. You must first be sick before you can get healed. No one receives consolation if he is not under the state of affliction.

Friend, you may be in a state of affliction but be rest assured that its end result is consolation. You shall again stand and be healed by the Lord. Surrender everything to Him for with God, nothing is impossible.

Lord, you are my consolation in times of affliction. I may not fully understand why I am passing through such painful and difficult situation but I just ask you to give me enough strength, will, and determination to accept my ordeal and persevere towards the glorious prize that awaits me. Take full control of my mind and heart not to waiver in  this pursuit for your greater glory, honor and praise. With much hope and faith I pray, in Jesus Name. Amen.


THE MEASURE OF LOVE
Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

St. Francis de Sales said, “The measure of love is to love without measure.” Today’s saint was bishop of Geneva and spiritual director of St. Jeanne de Chantal and many others. When Protestantism spread throughout Europe, most Catholic leaders reacted defensively. Francis de Sales was different. He perceived the Reformation as a call to conversion and to a more intense effort to achieve holiness. His preaching became known because of his love, moderation and balance. He did not, like many other spiritual guides, impose the usual harsh disciplines or force the faithful to make a drastic choice between good and evil. For him, the intensity of one’s charity is more important than self-mortification. This reflects the ministry of Jesus, who reached out and called all to “love God and love neighbor.”

The only complaint against Francis came from rigorist critics who charged that he made it appear all too easy to become a saint. While most spiritual books were for clerics and nuns, he addressed his Introduction to the Devout Life and his Treatise on the Love of God also to lay people. Francis taught that one could become a saint wherever one lives in the world. He wrote, “Devotion is to be practiced differently by the noble, the worker, the servant, the prince, the widow, the young girl, the wife.”

For him, genuine devotion is simply true love of God. He wrote, “In holy Church, all is by love, in love, for love and of love.” These simple words make us check whether in our lives all is by, in, for and of love. Love is the key to other persons’ hearts and to the heart of God. Of course, it needs time and effort to achieve genuine and profound love of God. We get easily discouraged when we commit the same mistake again.

Let us end with his very practical advice for our prayer life: “A single ‘Our Father,’ said with feeling, has greater value than many repetitions, said quickly and hurriedly.”


REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you get easily discouraged because of your repeated failures? Are you gentle and understanding when you meet erring fellowmen?


Lord, today I thank You for giving the Church a man like St. Francis de Sales. Make me more understanding, gentle and compassionate with my fellowmen.




Published: 

January 24, 2014, 8:05 AM

September 12, 2013 - 9:11AM

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

SAY LESS
If we say less than we should, it is easy to add. But having said too much, it is hard to take it away.

CHARITY
God does not want each person to keep all the counsels, but only those appropriate to the diversity of persons, times, opportunities, and strengths, as charity requires; for it is charity, as queen of all virtues, all commandments, all counsels, and, in short, of all laws and all Christian actions that gives to all of them their rank, order, time, and value.

ANGER

Do you ask how to resist anger? 

As soon as you feel the slightest resentment, gather together your powers, not hastily or impetuously, but gently and seriously.

For as in some law courts, the criers make more noise in their efforts to preserve quiet than those they seek to still, so, if we are impestuous in our attempts to restrain our anger, we cause greater discomposure in our hearts than before; and once thrown off its balance, the heart is no longer its own master.

-- St. Francis de Sales

PERFECTION OF LOVE

Perfection of life is 
the perfection of love. 
For love is 
the life of the soul.


-- St. Francis De Sales



"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." -- John 17:23

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:2).

"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." -- John 14:23

Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us (1 John 3:24). If anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him (1 John 2:5).

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him (1 John 4: 16-17).


"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." -- John 13:34

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7). Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves (Rom. 12:10). Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law (Rom. 13:8). The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians 5:14).

No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us (1 John 4:12).

"The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father." -- John 16:27

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1). This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother (1 John 3:10).


"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." -- Matthew 5:48

Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor. 13:11). And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Col. 3:14). Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom. 13:10).

LOVING GOD

Some torment themselves in seeking means to discover the art of loving God, and do not know - poor creatures.

There is no art or means of loving Him 

but to love those who love Him.

That is, to begin to practice those things which are pleasing to Him. -- St. Francis de Sales

"If you love those who love you, 

what credit is that to you? 

Even 'sinners' love those who love them."

Luke 6:32

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. -- Romans 12:9

Hate evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked. -- Psalm 97:10

The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. -- Psalm 145:20

Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. -- Psalm 31:23

Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. -- Deuteronomy 7:9


God's Promise:

"I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. -- Proverbs 8:17

To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. -- Proverbs 8:21

The descendants of His servants will inherit it, And those who love His name will dwell in it. -- Psalm 69:36


Prayer

O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, -- Nehemiah 1:5

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified." -- Psalm 70:4

Come and show me your mercy, as you do for all who love your name. -- Psalm 119:132

SPIRIT OF LIBERTY

I leave you the spirit of liberty - not that which excludes obedience, for that is the liberty of the flesh; but that which excludes restraint, scruple, and worry. -- St. Francis De Sales

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. -- 2 Corinthians 3:17

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners. -- Isaiah 61:1

Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son always remains." -- John 8:34-35

"So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free." -- John 8:34-36

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. -- Romans 6:22

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. -- 1 Peter 2:16

For, brothers, you have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. -- Galatians 5:13

Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. -- Galatians 5:1

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. -- Romans 8:2

Charity introduces us into the Promised Land

"She will bear a son, 

and you shall call his name Jesus, 

for he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21

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. -- St. Francis De Sales

The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith (Romans 4:13).

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants -- not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" -- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist (Romans 4:16-17).

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be" (Romans 4:18).

That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness" (Romans 4:22).

Would you build me a house to dwell in? (2 Samuel 7:5)

Let the heavens praise thy wonders, O LORD, thy faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! (Psalm 89:5)

For thy steadfast love was established for ever, thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens (Psalm 89:2).

Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: `I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations'" (Psalm 89:3-4). And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27). I will establish his line for ever and his throne as the days of the heavens (Psalm 89:29).

Love for One Another

"Truly, I say to you, 

as you did it 

to one of the least 

of these my brethren, 

you did it to me." 

 Matthew 25:40

Some say it is unreasonable to be courteous and gentle with a reckless person who insults you for no reason at all. I have made a pact with my tongue; not to speak when my heart is disturbed. -- St. Francis de Sales

You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD (Leviticus 19:16-18).

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb (Psalms 19:8-10,15).

Loving or Tending to the Sovereign Good.

How many sins have entered into the soul through the eye as Holy Scripture indicates? [1 Jn. 2:16]. That is why they must fast by keeping them lowered and not permitting them to look upon frivolous and unlawful objects; the ears, by depriving them of listening to vain talk which serves only to fill the mind with worldly images; the tongue, in not speaking idle words and those which savor of the world or the things of the world. We ought also to cut off useless thoughts, as well as vain memories and superfluous appetites and desires of our will. In short, we ought to hold in check all those things which keep us from loving or tending to the Sovereign Good.

-- St. Francis de Sales

The highest degree of Meekness

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.
-- St. Francis de Sales

What keeps us from loving God?

How many sins have entered into the soul through the eye as Holy Scripture indicates? [1 Jn. 2:16]. That is why they must fast by keeping them lowered and not permitting them to look upon frivolous and unlawful objects; the ears, by depriving them of listening to vain talk which serves only to fill the mind with worldly images; the tongue, in not speaking idle words and those which savor of the world or the things of the world. We ought also to cut off useless thoughts, as well as vain memories and superfluous appetites and desires of our will. In short, we ought to hold in check all those things which keep us from loving or tending to the Sovereign Good.
-- St. Francis de Sales

Drawn to God

We are not drawn to God by iron chains, but by sweet attractions and holy inspirations.
-- St. Francis de Sales

Charity and Kindness

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.
-- St. Francis de Sales