:: Bloom where you are planted :: Recollections with St. Francis de Sales

RECOLLECTIONS WITH St. FRANCIS DE SALES





JULY 2002 - APRIL 2003



    January 2003:

Practice of Virtues: Patience and Gentleness

1. Personal Study and Reflection

1.1.    Scripture References

Mt. 11: 28-29: "Learn from me for I am gentle..."
Lk. 9: 51-56: "The Son of Man has not come to destroy..."
Col. 3: 12-17: "Clothe yourselves with meekness and patience..."
Jas. 5:7-11: "Be patient..."

1.2. Teaching of St. Francis de Sales

Gentleness is loving kindness in relationship with God, self and others.

"Often recall to your mind that Our Lord saved us by his sufferings and endurance. In the same way, we must work out our salvation by sufferings, trials, bearing insults, conflicts and trouble with as much gentleness as possible" (Introduction to Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 3)

"Look often with your interior eyes on Jesus Christ, crucified, naked blasphemed, slandered, abandoned and overwhelmed by every kind of trouble, sorrow and pain. Consider that all your sufferings are not comparable to his, either in quantity or in quality; you will never be able to suffer anything for his sake, compared to what he suffered for you" (Introduction to Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 3).

"While speaking about gentleness towards one's neighbour, St. Francis de Sales insists: "I tell you very plainly and without any exception: Do not become angry at all, if that is possible. Do, not accept any pretext whatever to open the door of your heart to anger... It is better to learn to live without anger than to try to make a wise and moderate use of anger. When we find ourselves surprised by it due to our imperfection or weakness, it is better to repel it promptly than to bargain with it" (Introduction to Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 8).

"Gentleness towards ourselves makes us moderate in our emotions and feelings towards ourselves; regulate all violent, impetuous and passionate thoughts. Gentleness must permeate our whole interior and exterior. He who is able to preserve gentleness among pains and weakness and peace among troubles and a multiplicity of affairs is almost perfect" (Letter of 8th April, 1608, AE XIV. p.2).

1.3. Biographical Notes: St. Francis' Practice of Gentleness

"Your gentleness, Madame de Chantal said to him, will increase the insolence of these mischievous people." Francis answered, "Not at all, not at all. Besides, dear daughter, would you like me to destroy in a quarter of an hour the little edifice of interior peace I have been building up patiently for myself for the last eighteen years?" (Lajeunie. Vol. 2, p. 126).

When beginning to feel angry, he would swallow, remain an instant without speaking and then begin to smile gently and speak with calm (Lajeunie. Vol. 2, p. 132).

2. Apostolic Community Meeting

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Shared Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament (One Hour)

Points for Reflection and Sharing:

What is your understanding of gentleness? Do you think of gentleness as weakness?

How will you manage the emotions of anger, anxiety, worry, etc. How does this help you to integrate your personality?

How do you react when beset with trials, problems, worries, anxieties, etc.?

Recall a concrete situation or an anecdote and explain how gentleness is weakness or strength. If it is a strength, how will you promote it in your community and ministry?

3. Evaluation and Decisions

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Share the concrete follow up of the decisions taken.

What practical steps do we need to take to assimilate at the individual and community level the insights we have gained from this Recollection?