Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales - February

[Hildegard of Bingen]

Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales

Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers


February 6th (page 37)

 

      Certainly nothing can so effectively humble us before God’s mercy as the multitude of His benefits, and nothing can so deeply humble us before His justice as the great number of our sins. Let us consider often what He has done for us and what we have done against Him. As we reflect on our sins one by one, let us also consider His graces one by one. There is no need to fear that knowledge of His gifts will make us proud, if only we remember this truth, that they are from Him and not from ourselves. A lively consideration of graces received makes us humble, because knowledge of them begets gratitude for them.

 

(INT. Part III, Ch. 5 ; O. III, p. 146)

 

 

      On February 6th, 1606, Francis de Sales, who had retired in solitude to the Jesuits of Chambery came out to preach the Lenten sermon to the senate of Savoy. During this sermon the saint’s face was seen by many to shine with a brilliant light issuing from a great crucifix and reflecting on him. It was as if the dying God-Man wanted to show everyone that Francis was His faithful servant who drew all his light from the divine eclipse of His passion and death. The sermons, confessions and conferences of this great prelate produced extraordinary effects at Chambery for the conversion of Protestants and the growth of Christian piety. This large crucifix is still preserved in the convent of Chambery.

(A.S. II, p. 145)

 

 

                                                                                          Christian piety always has only one object, God. However, it suggests various

                                                                                           ways of serving Him, according to varying states of life and social conditions.

                                                                                                               So in whatever state we live, we can please God.