Bloom where you are planted!  Be what you are, be at its best!! To be nothing, if not human!!!    -SFS

Salesian   References A Thematic easy-reference to Salesian Perspectives on different topics

Memo on Christian Perfection

  Letter to Madame Brûlart

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, Memo on Christian Perfection)

Everyone is obliged to strive for the perfection of Christian life, because Our Lord commands that we be perfect and St. Paul says the same (Mt. 5:48; 2 Cor. 13:11).  Perfection of Christian life consists in conforming our wills to that of our good God, who is the sovereign standard and norm for all actions.  So in order to acquire perfection we must always consider and recognize what God’s will is in everything that concerns us, so that we can flee what He wants us to avoid and accomplish what He wants us to do.

(Read further in Letter to Madame Brûlart, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

A Disciple's heart

  Corrigan Francois

(The Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales: A Way of Life.  "A Disciple's Heart")

We must begin with the heart, a heart enlightened and guided by reason, a heart which remembers.  This presupposes a heart which is always available and an individual always “ready to learn.”

(Read further in Corrigan Francois, The Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales: A Way of Life, Translated by Joseph D. Bowler OSFS and Lewis S. Fiorelli OSFS, Bangalore, India: SFS Publications, 1992)

Patiently accepting being less than perfect

  Letter to Madame de la Flechere

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, Patiently accept being less than perfect)

If you happen to do something that you regret, be neither astonished nor upset, but, having acknowledged your failing, humble yourself quietly before God and try to regain your gentle composure.  Say to your soul: “There, we have made a mistake, but let’s go on now and be more careful.”  Every time you fall, do the same.

(Read further in Letter to Madame de la Flechere, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

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