"(In IV 11), "A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; the one who finds one finds a treasure. 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. St. Francis de Sales was beatified on January 8, 1661 and canonized on April 19, 1665 by Pope Alexander VII. They love us. What is the truth? Here Francis gives every Christian instruction in basic prayer and relationship with God through meditation and he teaches us clearly that “fear of judgment is the way of the saints”, and, in particular, is the way of the Doctors of the Church. The hunter expressedastonishment that one with so eminent a mindwould waste time on so insignificant a thing.St. St. Francis de Sales sets out a much simpler way, a “brief method for knowing God’s will,” in book eight of his Treatise on the Love of God. "(S II 13)"It often happens in the sittings of parliamentthat the ushers crying out"silence" make more noisethan those they command to be silent. 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.”. The oldest of six boys, Francis lived in modern-day Switzerland where he made it his mission to convert the Calvinists there who were rapidly leaving the Faith. Born: 1567 Died: 1622 Beatified: 1661 by … God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry. Spiritual life -- Catholic Church, Christian saints -- Switzerland -- Correspondence, Francis, de Sales, Saint, 1567-1622, Francis, de Sales, Saint, 1567-1622 -- Correspondence, Christian saints, Spiritual life Publisher New York : E.P. "(S II 13)A sensible mind is a medium mindwhich is neither too great nor too little. 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. "(I II 2)"The day that is past must not judgethe day present, nor the present dayjudge that which is past; it is only theLast Day that judges all. Temptations make sin attractive to us. "(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. We are most tempted to see in others what we find most disconcerting about our own actions or motivations. Works of the Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi – pdf, text, epub, kindle format. p. 88. as much as we think it necessary to say to overthrow these allegations. "Those who look well after their own consciencesrarely fall into the sin of judging others. Words can heal and raise up. Each human being is called to make life choices, great and small, based on the discerned knowledge of the Will of God. "(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. The saint who counseled many married couples used 3 metaphors when it comes to married love. Living to extremes--either extreme - generally does little to promote lasting health, happiness or holiness. "(LW I 5)"Those who run best in the racedo not think of the crowdwhich is looking at them. When Francis […] 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). Let St. Francis de Sales illumine the path to holiness and strengthen your desire to walk that road with the Lord. Revisit them often, whether to be encouraged, challenged, nourished or consoled. "(In IV 11)"Just as internal revolutions and troubles can cause the ruin of a state,so an anxious and troubled heart no longerhas the strength to resist the assaults of the enemy. "(In I 1)"Devotion is a certain intensity of charitywhich not only makes us prompt,active and diligent in observing God's Commandments,but moves us beyond that to perform asmany good deeds as possible, eventhose which are only counseled or inspired. "(LR III 1)"It is the part of a futile soul to busy itselfwith examining the lives of others. "(LW IV 3)"Be brief when you cannot be good. "(In III 8)"Let us walk on the way with our brothers and sistersgently, peacefully and amiably. One can do both — and one must do both. "(LR IX 6), We sometimes waste a great deal of our energies by dwelling on the past or by worrying about the future. 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. It is especially the ability to do accomplish the good joyfully, even in the face of obstacles to that good. Instead, he felt a call to the priesthood and was ordained for the Diocese of Geneva. 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. "(S II 15)"The business of finding fault is very easy;the business of doing better, very difficult. Gently. While almost always taken from within a larger context, these quotes provide convenient distillations of his rich insights on the love of God, self, others and the … St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622) was the Bishop of Geneva and a renowned spiritual director. 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. Written by a Doctor of the Church for laity interested in living a better life, it urges upon all men and women a hatred of sin, detachment for the things of the world, love of God and constancy in prayer. "(LE VI 19), "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." 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. "(LW II 6)"While we are busy and anxious to findout what is the better, we unprofitably let slipthe time for doing many good things. Ironically, anxiety and fear usually make it even more difficult to deal with those things that threaten what is important to us. Ever wish that you could take back something that you spoke to another out or anger, frustration or sarcasm? The most popular Catholic self-help book of all time is written for laymen. "(In III 29)"Let us be as precise and balanced as possiblein our words. "(In I 2), What is God asking of me at this moment? Volunteer Scheduler Realm Safe Environment (Protecting God's Children) Office365 (Staff) Links to other Catholic Organizations "(In III 9)"We correct ourselves better by a calm and lasting repentancethan by one that is bitter and angry. Temptations can actually be reminders of our need for God's grace and lead us to draw even more closely to a God who loves us, forgives us, redeems us and inspires us. I highly encourage pairing this section with Josef Pieper’s short work, Leisure: the Basis of Culture. And we make ourselves miserable. "You were never told not to thinkabout your advancement, but that you werenot to think about it anxiously. Other choices, usually dealing with how to do what is right, good and loving may not be so clear cut. Should I send that e-mail message? These sayings from St. Francis de Sales have been gleaned from his collected letters, homilies, conferences and publications. After seeing a number of Catholics fighting over the propriety of things like music and video games, I found this quote from St. Francis particularly interesting: “Walking, harmless games, music, instrumental or vocal, field sports, etc., are such entirely lawful recreations that they need no rules beyond those of ordinary discretion, which keep everything within due limits of time, place, and degree.” Also of note to all of us who spend too much time perusing social media to see whose opinion we will excoriate next is the chapter on “Unseemly Words and the Respect Due to Others” (found on page 126 of this edition of the text). ', 'Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. "(In 4 8)"Little temptations can annoy us but never hurt usas long as we are firmly resolved to serve God. "(In 4 3)"Even though we may betroubled in our soul and body, we stillhave the resolution never to consent to the sinor the temptation. A healthy spirituality views perfection more as a process than a product. "(In III 1)"Some virtues are so universally useful that we oughtnot only to practice them for their own sake butparticularly for their usefulness in the practice ofall the others. "(In I 1)"Charity and devotion are no more differentfrom one another than flame from fire.Charity is a spiritual fire; when it is embraced it is called"devotion. "(LW I 5). "(In IV 11)"If you can share your anxiety withyour spiritual director or some trusted friend,calm will be restored more quickly. He and his father disagreed fiercely about his life’s calling but eventually, in 1593, Francis was ordained to the priesthood. Some choices are easy: this will either lead to virtue or vice, to light or darkness, to life or death. He authored a couple of … Some of the above? In late 1608, St. Francis de Sales, the Catholic Bishop of Geneva, published his first edition of the Introduction to the Devout Life. "(LR I 8)"It is our part to plant and water carefully,but to give increase - that belongs only to God. 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. Why do we do it? 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. "(S II 13)"The observations of a parentgiven gently and affectionately havemuch more power to correct achild than those which are givenangrily and wrathfully. None of the above? In conclusion, I’d like to leave you with some of St. Francis’ closing words from this magnificent work: When Saint Symphorian was led to his martyrdom, his mother cried out to him, “My son, my son, remember life eternal, look to heaven, behold him who reigns there; for the brief course of this life will soon be ended.” Even so would I say to you: Look to heaven, and do not lose it for earth; look at hell, and do not plunge therein for the sake of this passing life; look at Jesus Christ, and do not deny him for the world’s sake; and if the devout life sometimes seems hard and dull, join in Saint Francis’s song: “So vast the joys that I await, no earthly travail seems that great.”. "(C III)"Do not examine tooclosely whether you arein perfection or not. "(LR IV 9)"One of the best marks of the goodness of allinspirations and especially the extraordinaryis peace and tranquility of heart in those who receive them. St. Francis de Sales is known for a classic book titled An Introduction to the Devout Life. Time for volunteer work? "For fear," replied the hunter,"that is remaining taut like that, it would have no force at allwhen I needed to use it." Saint Francis de Sales was born into a senatorial family where he was destined to work in government positions of authority. It appears these assertions were aimed right at the teaching of the Calvinists; St. Francis affirms that by rejecting the True Presence, the reformers were breaking with 1500 years of teaching and tradition (not to mention Sacred Scripture). "(In III 1)"The just person is like a tree plantednear running water, which bears fruitin its season. In the second counsels, St. Francis discusses prayer and the sacraments. Living in the present moment enables us to reinterpret our past and to prepare for our future. Though many sections of the work are worth quoting, there are a few I would like to focus on due to their relevance in the modern Church. School Office/ Escuela de San Francisco de Sales - 702-647-2828. The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales: On Prayer (Volume I) by Francis de Sales 4.28 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 1985 — 2 editions G iven the growing challenges now facing Christians, a valuable source to turn to, for wisdom and strength, is St. Francis de Sales. To the extent that we can name - and accept - our imperfections, we can truly be perfected - strengthened, converted and purified - by the love of God. The practice of devotion - the practice of true love - is usually found somewhere in the middle. For instance, we seldom have the opportunityto practice fortitude, great generosity orgreatness of soul. "(In III 9)"Lift your heart up gently whenever it falls.Humble yourself before God, but do not be astonished byyour fall since it is not surprising that weakness is weak,frailty is frail and misery is miserable! Virtues are most effective when they meet the needs of a particular relationship, task, event or circumstance. "(In III 30)"We often show more disdain bysharing what's on our mindthan by the expression on our face. "(T VII 7)"The secret of secrets in prayeris to follow attractions in simplicity of heart. "(In III 31)"To take the air, to go for a stroll, to enjoy a friendly chat,to play music, or sing or hunt...are such honestdiversions that the only thing needed to utilize themwell is simple prudence, which givesto all things their rank, time, place and measure. Treatise on the Love of God (Library of St. Francis de Sales, #2) Francis de Sales, Henry … "(In III 1)"Frequently the great fault of thoseundertaking the practice of a particular virtueis to insist stubbornly upon its practice inall circumstances. © 2020 OnePeterFive, Inc. All rights reserved. "(LR I 2)"Overzealousness is the motherof all imperfections. These sayings from St. Francis de Sales have been gleaned from his collected letters, homilies, conferences and publications. As we grow in our ability to accept and love ourselves, we are more likely to treat others in the same manner. "(LR II 18)"It is absolutely necessaryfor friendship that mutuality should existbetween the two who love each other. 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