QUOTES FROM ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
Our patron saint, Francis de Sales, who lived from 1567 to 1622, had a timeless, always up-to-date approach to life.
He says:
· "The worst way of speaking is to speak too much. Therefore speak little and well, speak little and gently, speak little and charitably, speak little and amiably."
St. Francis speaks of the effects of prayer in this way:
· "Prayer accustoms our soul to the presence of God, to produce in us a union with Him which is intimate, simple and perfect."
He had a profound understanding of life and its different vocations. His comment on the demands of marriage and family life may surprise some people! Of marriage St. Francis says:
· "The state of marriage is one that requires more virtue and constancy than any other. It is a perpetual exercise in mortification, (i.e. in self-denial)."
St. Francis describes the loving and truth-filled approach Christians should take as they share the Gospel and communicate other truths to children, youth and adults:
· "Our words must come from the heart, not the mouth. The tongue speaks only to the ears. The heart speaks to the heart."
His very impressive ministry of prayer, preaching, teaching and writing led to the conversion of some 70,000 people to the Catholic Church. He summed up his approach in presenting the truths of faith in all their attractiveness in this way:
· "You will catch more flies with a spoonful of honey than with a barrel of vinegar."
St. Francis recognized the greatness in God's sight of small and seemingly insignificant actions and activities:
· "Even daily actions are great when they are done well to please God."
He also gave advice on how to go about practical Christian living:
· "Let us strive to be amiable, sweet and humble with all, especially with those whom God has placed near us. Let us not be one of those who seem to be angels abroad but are demons at home."
· "Prayer accustoms our soul to the presence of God, to produce in us a union with Him which is intimate, simple and perfect."
· "Humility and charity are the two master virtues, one the lowest, the other the highest. All the other virtues are dependent on them. For observe well that the whole building depends on the foundation and the roof."
· "Meekness and mildness of heart is a virtue rarer than chastity."
· "It should be our principal business to conquer ourselves -to conquer fits of anger, suspicions, jealousies, envy, deceitfulness, vanity, attachments and evil thoughts. In this way we shall acquire strength to subdue greater evils."
· "Take heed not to foster your own judgment; it will inebriate you. There is no difference between an intoxicated man and one full of his own opinion. One is no more capable of reasoning than the other."
· "All that is not eternal is not worthy of a thought."