by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 24, 2012 | LENT, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis de Sales gives sound advice on how to meditate with Holy Scripture. He suggests: ” We can consider the Holy Bible, that is, the mysteries contained therein, and principally the Gospels, in two ways. The first is to use the pious considerations...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 21, 2012 | LENT, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
Attentiveness, mindfulness, presence of mind- the capacity to listen well- these are all attributes considered essential when we hear the Word of God proclaimed. But this is often a struggle for the faithful one even if a right intention is present. St. Francis de...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 17, 2012 | LENT, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
A key element in our Lenten practices is almsgiving or other forms of charity. St. Francis de Sales expounds on this foundational aspect of our Christian lives. He said, ” Our Divine Master gave us His life not only to heal the sick, to work miracles, and to...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 16, 2012 | LENT, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis de Sales educates us about another key facet of our Lenten experience, that of prayer. He meets us where we are, even though he lived 400 years ago! This is how he begins to instruct us: “But what is prayer and meditation? It seems that these words have...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 15, 2012 | LENT, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis de Sales, with a sense of humor, tries to temper the inordinate eagerness of those who have engaged in spiritual practices with unrealistic expectations. He preaches: “We find those who hope for nothing so much as to be Mother Theresa of Avila very...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 14, 2012 | LENT, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
Yesterday in our post on temptations we quoted St Francis de Sales as saying “And let us not entertain the hope of being or wishing to be saints in three months! Shun both spiritual avarice and the ambition which causes so much disorder in our hearts.” What is...