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The spirituality of St. Francis de Sales is a “Spirituality of the Heart,” relevant today as in the time of St. Francis de Sales himself - an all-embracing, Down-to-earth Spirituality for everyone.

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Vol. 7  2004

 

Fransalian International

 

 

 

 

 

St. Francis de Sales

 

   A Saint so Human (Insight- IV)

 

 

 

  

 

 

Preparation is at the beginning of everything.  A housewife or a servant prepares breakfast.  Some persons prepare for prayer, meditation and Mass.  All those who are employed get ready for work.  Thus, we begin the day with preparation, spend the day preparing many things and end the day by getting ready to go to bed and sleep.

 

All the same, there are numerous occasions and events for which we do not prepare at all.  Often we do not prepare to meet Jesus in daily life and recognize him in daily events.  Thus, often we fail to raise our life to a higher level while a short preparation would have transformed our daily life and activity.  So, St. Francis de Sales advised Philothea "to make a general preparation for all the activities of the day," to spend the day well. We must realize that today is given to us in order to win the unending day of eternity.  So St. Francis de Sales writes:

 

Look ahead to the various sorts of business, conversations, and opportunities, which you are likely to have during the day for the service of God.  Foresee also the temptations to offend him, which you may meet with: by anger or by vanity or some other improper act.  Prepare yourself by a deliberate decision to use well the means, which will offer themselves to you, to serve God and make progress in your devotion.  Be ready, on the other hand, to carefully to avoid, to resist and to overcome whatever may present itself against your salvation and the glory of God.

 

How can this deliberate decision be implemented?  Here is an example: 'I foresee that I shall have to deal with a person who is excitable and who easily gets angry.  I will be determined not to lose control and annoy him.  Moreover, I shall prepare gentle words to put off his anger...'  We can do nothing by ourselves.  So we consecrate the day to God, pray for divine assistance and then launch into activity.  Thus, our daily life will be transformed.

 

(Fr. Antony Mookenthottam MSFS)

 

               

Fransalian International,  Vol. 7 (2004)

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Updated on Monday, April 03, 2006 22:43:03

 

 

 

   

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