Our Morning Offering – 15 March – Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent
O Merciful God By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor Angelicus Doctor Communis
O merciful God, grant that I may ever perfectly do Thy Will in all things. Let it be my ambition to work only for Thy honour and glory. Let me rejoice in nothing but that which leads to Thee, nor grieve for anything, which leads away from Thee. May all passing things be as nothing in my eyes and may all which is Thine be dear to me and Thou, my God, dear above them all. May all joy be meaningless without Thee and may I desire nothing apart from Thee. May all labour and toil delight me, when it is for Thee. Make me, O Lord, obedient without complaint, poor without regret, patient without murmur, humble without pretence, joyous without frivolity, and truthful without disguise. Amen
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 14 March – Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent – 4 Kings 4:1-7, Mattew 18:15-22 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” Luke 11:4
“Then Peter came up to him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22
CHARITY in INJURY St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD LOVE husband or wife with a calm, tranquil, firm and constant love, chiefly because God desires and enjoins us to do so. The same reason holds good as to children and other relatives and friends, each one according to his rank.
But as a general thing, what is the state of your heart with regard to your neighbour? Do you love him from your heart and for the love of God? In order to prove this, you must call to mind certain disagreeable, troublesome individuals, for with such, it is that we practice the love of God towards our neighbour and still more, towards those who do us any injury, either in word or deed. Consider whether your heart is clear with regard to such and whether you have to force it to love them? Are you slow to speak evil of your neighbour, especially of those whom you do not like? Do you never injure him, either directly or indirectly? A very little reflection will easily satisfy you on these points.” – (Introduction to the Devout Life).
Our Morning Offering – 14 March – Tuesday in the Third Week of Lent
My Lord and My God By St Nicholas of Flue (1417-1487)
My Lord and my God, take from me everything which distances me from Thee. My Lord and my God, give me everything which brings me closer to Thee. My Lord and my God, detach me from myself, to give my all to Thee. Amen
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 13 March – Monday of the Third Week in Lent – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“O Lord, deal with us, not according to our sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities.” Psalm 102:10
“Hear, O God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication. Be attentive to me and hear me. I am grieved in my exercise and am troubled,” Psalm 54:2-3
TRUE AND LIVING DEVOTION St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“ONE MAN SETS GREAT VALUE on fasting and believes himself to be leading a very devout life, as long as he fasts rigorously, although, the while, his heart is full of bitterness — and while he will not moisten his lips with wine, perhaps not even with water, in his great abstinence, he does not scruple to steep them in his neighbour’s blood, through slander and detraction.
Another man reckons himself as devout because he repeats many prayers daily, although. at the same time. he does not refrain from all manner of angry, irritating, conceited or insulting speeches among his family and neighbours. This man freely opens his purse in almsgiving but closes his heart to all gentle and forgiving feelings towards those who are opposed to him, while that one is ready enough to forgive his enemies but will never pay his rightful debts, save under pressure.
Meanwhile, all these people are conventionally called religious but, nevertheless, they are in no true sense really devout. …
But, in fact, all true and living devotion presupposes the love of God — and indeed, it is neither more, nor less, than a very real love of God, … And forasmuch as devotion consists in a high degree of real love, it not only makes us ready, active and diligent, in following all God’s Commands but, it also excites us to be ready and loving, in performing as many good works as possible … Devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness, by means of which, Divine Love works in us.” – ( Introduction to the Devout Life, Chapter 1: What true devotion is.)
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 12 March – The Third Sunday in Lent – Ephesians 5:1-9, Luke 11,14-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“To Thee have I lifted up my eyes, Who dwells in Heaven. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.” Psalm 122:1,3
“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste.” Luke 11:17
MUTUAL CHARITY St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“IN TODAY’S GOSPEL[Lk. 11:14-28], Our Lord insists that every kingdom divided against itself, (not united in itself) is brought to desolation. On the other hand, the converse is true, too – all kingdoms united in concord, not permitting any division to enter, will surely be filled with consolation. For if the propositions are opposite, the consequences must be, too. These words are among the most remarkable, noteworthy and important that our Divine Master ever spoke. For this reason the ancient Fathers carefully interpreted them.
They agree that our Saviour had three kinds of concord or union in mind when He spoke, where division in any of them, results in desolation. The first is the concord which should exist between a king and his subjects, making subjects submissive and obedient to his laws. The second is the union which we ought to have within, in our inner kingdom, where reason must be the king to whom are subject, all the faculties of our spirit, all our senses and even our bodies. … (Without this obedience and submission we cannot avoid having desolation and trouble, any more than there could be peace in a kingdom in which the subjects are not obedient to the laws of the king.)
… The third, is that which we ought to have with each other. This union or concord, has been earnestly preached, recommended and taught to us by Our Lord, equally in word and example. … Nothing is so stressed, nothing stated so completely as the observance of this Commandment [the Commandment of love[. He does so with good reason, for the beloved of the Beloved, the great Apostle St John, assures us that anyone who says that he loves God and does not love his neighbour, is a liar [1 Jn.4:20-21]. On the other hand, he who says he loves his neighbour but does not love God also contradicts the truth. That simply cannot be. To love God without loving the neighbour, who is created in His Image and Likeness [Gen. 1:26-27], is impossible.
But what should this union and concord be which we all ought to have? Oh! What should it be indeed! It must be such that if Our Lord Himself had not explained it, no-one would have been so daring as to use the same terms as His. At the Last Supper, after He had given the incomparable pledge of His love for us men, the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, He said: “Father, My very dear Father, I beseech Thee that all those whom Thou hast given Me may be one, as Thou and I, Father, are One ” [Jn 17:11-12, 21-22]. To show that He was not speaking only for the Apostles but for all the rest of us, He added: “I do not pray for them alone (that is, those He had just mentioned) but for all those who will believe in Me, through their word” [Jn 17:20]. Who would have dared, I repeat, to make such a comparison, or to ask that we might be united as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are united? – (Sermon for the Third Sunday of Lent, 27 February 1622).
Quote/s of the Day – 11 March – Saturday of the Second Week in Lent
“Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Make for it two wings – fasting and almsgiving!”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“It is a matter of real sorrow when God has given us strength to break stronger fetters, those of vanity and sin that we neglect our own progress and the attainment of such great blessings because we will not detach ourselves from trifles. Not only do we not advance, we fall back. For it is well known, that on the spiritual road, not to go on overcoming self, is to go backwards and not to increase our gain, is to lose!”
St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 11 March – Saturday of the Second Week in Lent – Genesis 27:6-40, Luke 15:11-32 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Lord, before I existed Thou beheld me and called me by name …” Jeremias 1:5
“I shall arise and shall go to my Father” Luke 15:18
THE LOVING HEART OF GOD St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“REMEMBER the Heart of Our Lord saw your heart and loved you surely, from the Tree of the Cross. By this love, He obtained for you all the good things that you will ever have, including your resolutions. Yes, we can say with Jeremias: “Lord, before I existed Thou beheld me and called me by name” (cf. 1:5).
This is indeed so – His Divine Goodness has prepared, in His love and mercy, all the means, general and particular, for our salvation and consequently, our resolutions. Yes, without doubt. A woman with child prepares the cradle, the linen and swaddling clothes and even arranges a nurse for the child whom she hopes to bring forth, although it is not yet in the world. So Our Lord, in His Goodness, is, as it were, pregnant with you, wishing to bring you forth to salvation and make you His child, prepared upon the Tree of the Cross, everything you would need. He got ready your spiritual cradle, linen and swaddling clothes, your nurse and everything suitable for your happiness.
These are all the means, all the attractions and all the graces by which He guides you and wants to lead you to perfection. My God, how deeply this truth should be fixed in our memory. Is it possible that I have been loved and loved so tenderly, by my Saviour? That He thought of me personally in all these little events by which He has drawn me to Himself? How much then should we love, cherish and make good use of all this for our benefit!This is extremely kind. this loving Heart of my God thought of me, loved me and obtained for me a thousand means of salvation. This He did as though there was no other soul in the world He could think of!
The sun shines on one part of the earth, shining on it no less than if it shone nowhere else and, as if it shone upon it alone. In the same way, Our Lord thought of and cared for all His loving children, in such a way, that He thought of each one of us. as though He had not thought of all the rest. He loved me, says St Paul and gave Himself for me, (Galatians 2:20) as if He said: for myself alone, as though He had done nothing for the others. Imprint this in your spirit, in order to cherish and nourish, with care, your firm resolution, so precious to the Heart of the Saviour.”– (Introduction to the Devout Life)
Our Morning Offering – 11 March – Saturday in the Second Week of Lent and a day for our Mother Mary
Most Holy Virgin, My Consolation By St Germanus of Paris (c 490-576)
Most Holy Virgin! Who are the greatest consolation that I receive from God, you, who art the heavenly dew which assuages all my pains, you, who are the light of my soul when it is enveloped in darkness, you, who are my guide in unknown paths, the support of my weakness, my treasure, in poverty, my remedy, in sickness, my consolation, in trouble, my refuge, in misery, and the hope of my salvation, hear my supplications, have pity on me, as becomes the Mother of so good a God and obtain for me a favourable reception of all my petitions at the throne of mercy. Amen
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 10 March – Friday of the Second Week in Lent – Hebrews 11:33-39, Luke 6:17-23. – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The just cried and the Lord heard them and delivered them out of all their troubles.” Psalm 33:18
“And He, lifting up His eyes on His disciples, said: Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20
POVERTY AMID RICHES St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God” and if so, woe be to the rich in spirit, for theirs must be the bitterness of hell! By rich in spirit, I mean him, whose riches engross his mind, or whose mind is buried in his riches. He is poor in spirit, whose heart is not filled with the love of riches, whose mind is not set upon them. …
Whatever riches and all other transitory things you may possess, you must keep your heart free from the slightest affection for them. Your heart may be surrounded by riches; however, riches must never master your heart! … And this, my child, is what your heart should be – open only to Heaven, impenetrable to riches and earthly treasures. If you have them, keep your heart from attaching itself to them; let it maintain a higher level and amidst riches be as though you had none, superior to them. Do not let that mind which is the likeness of God, cleave to mere earthly goods; let it always be raised above them, not sunk in them.
… Do not fix your longings on anything which you do not possess; do not let your heart rest in that which you have; do not grieve overmuch , at the losses which may happen to you – and then, you may reasonably believe, that although rich in fact, you are not so in affection but that you are poor in spirit and, therefore, blessed, for the Kingdom of Heaven is yours.” (Introduction to the Devout Life – PART III Containing counsels concerning the practice of virtue).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 9 March – Thursday in the Second Week of Lent – Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness, above thy fellows.” Psalm 44:8
“So shall it be at the end of the world. The Angels shall go out and shall separate the wicked from among the just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:49-50
HEAVEN or HELL? St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“CONSIDER THAT THE CHOICE you make in this life will last forever in the next! Consider too, that while both are open to receive you, according to your choice, yet God, Who is prepared to give the one by reason of His Justice, the other by reason of His Mercy, all the while desires, unspeakably that you should select Paradise. offering you countless graces on God’s part, countless assistance to attain to it. Consider that Jesus Christ, enthroned in Heaven, looks down upon you in loving invitation – ‘O beloved one, come unto Me and joy forever in the eternal blessedness of My Love!’ Behold His mother yearning over you with maternal tenderness, ‘Courage, my child, do not despise the Goodness of my Son, or my earnest prayers for thy salvation.‘ …
O Hell, I abhor thee now and forever; I abhor thy griefs and torments, thine endless misery, the unceasing blasphemies and maledictions which thou pourest out upon my God and turning to thee, O blessed Paradise, eternal glory, unfading happiness, I choose thee forever as my abode, thy glorious mansions, thy precious and abiding tabernacles.
O my God, I bless Thy Mercy which gives me the power to choose, O Jesus, Saviour, I accept Thine Eternal Love and praise Thee for the promise Thou hast given me, of a place prepared for me, in that blessed New Jerusalem, where I shall love and bless Thee forever. ” (Excerpt – ‘Introduction to the Devout Life’ 9th Meditation).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 8 March – Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 31:8-11, Matthew 22:34-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments. …” Psalm 111:3
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ ” Matthew 22:37-39
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“CHARITY, while it is alive in the soul, reigns supreme and holds sway over all the emotions, leading the will to put God before everything else without delay, without exception, without reserve. … But why does charity include love of ourselves? Why, because we are wearing God’s Image and Likeness and, since all men enjoy the same noble dignity, we love them too as we love ourselves – in other words, as devoted living likenesses of the Godhead. … So it is, then, that the same charity which gives rise to acts of love of God, also breeds love of our neighbour.
When we see our neighbour, created to the Image and Likeness of God, should we not say to one another, ‘Stop, do you see this created being, do you see how he resembles the Creator? should we not cast ourselves upon him and weep over him with love? Should we not give him a thousand, thousand blessings?
It is for love of God Who made him in His Own Image and Likeness and, therefore, capable of sharing in His goodness in grace and glory. I say it is for love of God, from Whom he is, Whose he is, by Whom he is, in Whom he is, for Whom he is, Whom he resembles in a most particular manner.” – (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 10).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 7 March – Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20
“I was an hungred and you gave Me to eat, I was naked and ye clothed Me; come, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:34-36
ALMSGIVING St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“MY CHILD, OUR POSSESSIONS ARE NOT OURS – God has given them to us to cultivate, that we may make them fruitful and profitable in His Service and so doing, we shall please Him. And this we must do more earnestly than worldly men, for they look carefully after their property out of self-love and we must work for the love of God. Now self-love is a restless, anxious, over-eager love and so, the work done on its behalf is troubled, vexatious and unsatisfactory–whereas the love of God, is calm, peaceful and tranquil and so the work done for its sake, even in worldly things, is gentle, trustful and quiet. …
… Always dispose of a part of your means by giving them heartily to the poor – you impoverish yourself, by whatever you give away. It is true that God will restore it to you, not only in the next world, but in this, for nothing brings so much temporal prosperity as free almsgiving but meanwhile, you are sensibly poorer for what you give. Truly that is a holy and rich poverty which results from almsgiving.
… Love the poor and poverty, this love will make you truly poor, since, as Holy Scripture says, we become like to that we love. Love makes lovers equal. “Who is weak and I am not weak?” (2 Cor 11:29) says St Paul? He might have said, Who is poor and I am not poor? for it was love which made him like to those he loved and so, if you love the poor, you will indeed share their poverty and be poor like them.
And if you love the poor, seek them out, take pleasure in bringing them to your home and in going to theirs, talk freely with them and be ready to meet them, whether in Church or elsewhere. Let your tongue be poor with them in converse but let your hands be rich to distribute out of your abundance!” (Introduction to the Devout Life Part III – 15. How to exercise real Poverty, although actually Rich).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 6 March – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 51:13-17, Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure …” Matthew 13:44
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” Matthew13:45-46
HEAVENLY TREASURE St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“The first difficulty seen in the question is: Can the souls of the blessed, separated from their bodies, see, hear, consider and understand? Can they, in short, exercise the functions of the mind, as freely as when they were united to their bodies? I answer that not only can they act as before but much more perfectly. And to support this theory I shall give you a story from St Augustine, an author in whom one can place complete trust. He relates that he was acquainted with a physician from Carthage who was as famous in Rome as in that City, both because he excelled in the art of medicine and because, he was a very good man, one who did many charitable works and served the poor gratis.
His charity towards his neighbour, moved God to lift him out of an error into which he had fallen as a young man. God always greatly favours those who practise charity toward their neighbour; indeed, there is nothing that draws down His mercy upon us more abundantly. Our Lord has declared it His own special commandment [Jn. 15:12], the one He loves and cherishes most. For after that of the love of God, there is none greater [Matt 22:37-40].
St Augustine recounts how this physician told him that when young, he began to doubt whether the soul, separated from the body, can see, hear, or understand anything. One day, while in this error, he fell asleep. Suddenly, a handsome young man appeared to him in his sleep and said: “Follow me.” The physician did so and his guide led him into a large and spacious field where, on one side he showed him incomparable beauties and on the other allowed him to hear a concert of delightful music. Then the physician awoke.
Some time after, the same young man again appeared to him in sleep and asked: “Do you recognise me?” The physician answered that he did indeed recognise him distinctly, that it was he who had conducted him to the beautiful field where he had heard such pleasing music. “But how can you see and recognise me?” asked the youth. “Where are your eyes?” “My eyes,” he replied, “are in my body.” “And where is your body?” “My body is lying in my bed.” “And are your eyes open or closed?” “They are closed.” “If they are closed, they can see nothing. Admit, then, since you see me even with your eyes closed, recognise me distinctly and have heard the music, even though your senses slept, that the functions of the mind do not depend on the corporal senses and that the soul, even when separated from the body, can nevertheless see, hear, consider and understand. ” Then the sacred dream ended and the youth left the physician, who never after doubted this truth.” – (Sermon for the Second Sunday of Lent, 20 February 1622).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 5 March – The Second Sunday in Lent – Thessalonians 4:1-7, Matthew 17:1-9 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Lord, it is good for us to be here …” Matthew 17:4
“I know a man in Christ— whether he was in or outside the body, I do not know, God knows— who was snatched up to the third heaven. . . and heard secret words, words which it is not granted to man to utter.” 2 Corinthians 12:2-4
ETERNAL HAPPINESS St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“REJOICE AND BE HAPPY! Persevere to the end and prefer to die, rather than abandon the post to which God has called you!
But embrace the Cross with patience and hide in God’s breast, with your troubles; fix your eyes on the Lamb immolated for your sake and always be content with what God gives you and destines for you. We must act like this because we are sure that God is calling us and has chosen for us ,what will make us the most pleasing in His sight . Thus, you will go from Light to Light and the pains endured, for the sake of Jesus Crucified, will be delightful to you, whereas the pleasures and consolations of the world, will become bitter.
You will begin to taste, even in this life, a foretaste of eternal life, for the principal beatitude of the soul in Heaven, is to be confirmed forever in the Will of the Father. Thus, it tastes the divine sweetness. But it will never taste it in Heaven, if it is not clothed with it on earth, where we are pilgrims and travellers. When it is clothed with it, it tastes God by grace in its troubles; its memory will be full of the Blood of the Lamb without blemish; its mind will be opened and contemplate the ineffable love that God has made known in the Wisdom of His Son and the love it finds, in the Holy Spirit’s goodness, casts out self-love and love for created things, to love only God.
So do not be afraid … but suffer with joy, so as to conform yourself to the Will of God.” – (Sermon for the Second Sunday of Lent, 20 February 1622).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 4 March – The Memorial of St Casimir (1458-1484) Confessor, Prince – Saturday of Ember Week in Lent – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 31:8-11,Luke 12:35-40 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The just shall flourish like the palm tree, he shall grow up, like the cedar of Lebanon.” Psalm 91:13
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning … ” Luke 12:35-36
VIGILANT FAITH AND CHARITY St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“IT WORKS THE SAME WAY with faith as with charity. We know by the works which charity performs, whether faith is dead or dying. When it produces no good works, we conclude that it is dead and when they are few and sluggish, that, it is dying. But just as there is a dead faith, there must also be a living one which is its opposite. It is excellent. Joined and United with charity and vivified by it, it is strong, firm and Constant. It performs many great and good works which deserve the praise: “Oh, how great is your faith!Let all that you desire be done.” …
It is great because of the good works it performs and also because of the many virtues which accompany it and which it governs. … So charity united to faith is not only followed by all the virtues but, as a queen, she commands them and all obey and fight for her and, according to her will. From this, results the multitude of good works, of a living faith.
There is a vigilant faith which, again, depends on its union with charity. But there is also one which is sluggish, dull and apathetic and, it is the opposite of vigilant faith. It is lax in applying itself to the consideration of the Mysteries of our Religion. It is completely torpid and, for this reason, it does not penetrate revealed Truths at all. It sees them, to be sure and knows them, because its eyes are not altogether closed. It is not asleep but it is drowsy or dozing. It resembles weary people who, although their eyes are open, see almost nothing and although they hear talking, they neither know nor understand what is said. Why? Because they are quite overcome with sleepiness. …
But vigilant faith not only performs good works, like living faith, it also penetrates and understands revealed Truths quickly and with great depth and subtlety of perception. It is active and diligent, in seeking and embracing those things which can increase and strengthen it. It watches and perceives from afar, all its enemies. It is always on the alert to discover the good and to avoid evil. It guards itself against anything which could ruin it. Vigilant, it walks firmly and easily keeps from falling over precipices.
This vigilant faith is accompanied by the Four Cardinal Virtues: Fortitude, Prudence, Justice and Temperance. It uses them as an Armoured Breastplate to put its enemies to flight, or to remain among them firm, invincible and unshaken. So great is its strength that it fears nothing because, not only is it strong but also, it is aware of its strength and by Whom it is supported—Truth itself!” (Sermon for Thursday after the First Sunday of Lent, 17 February 1622).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 3 March – Ember Friday of the First Week in Lent – Ezekiel 18:20-28, John 5:1-15 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the voice of my petition.” Psalm 85:6
“Do you wish to be made whole?” John 5:6
THE GOAL OF PRAYER St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“ … IN OUR PRIVATE PRAYERS what reverence ought we to have? In private prayer, we are before God, as in public prayer, although in public prayer we ought to be particularly attentive on account of the edification of our neighbour; exterior reverence is a great aid to the interior. We have many examples which witness to the great exterior reverence which we ought to have when praying, even though it be private prayer. Listen to St. Paul: “I kneel, ” he says, “before the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for you all”(cf Eph 3:14). And do you not see that the Saviour Himself, while praying to His Father, is prostrate on the ground? (cf. Mt 26:39 and Mk 14:35). ” (Sermon for the Palm Sunday, given on 12 April 1615).
“We must now speak of the final cause [that is, the goal] of prayer. We ought to know, in the first place that all things have been created for prayer and that, when God created angels and men, He did so that they might praise Him eternally in Heaven above, even though this is the last thing that we shall do – if that can be called “last” which is eternal.
To understand this better we will say this – when we wish to make something, we always look first to the end [or purpose], rather than to the work itself. For example, if we are to build a Church and we are asked why we are building it, we will respond that it is so that we can retire there and sing the praises of God; nevertheless, this will be the last thing that we shall do. …
Now prayer, according to most of the Fathers, is nothing other than a raising of the mind to heavenly things; others say, it is a petition but the two opinions are not at all opposed, for while raising our mind to God, we can ask Him for what seems necessary.
The principal petition which we ought to make to God is that of union of our wills with His and the final cause [goal] of prayer lies in desiring only God. Accordingly,, all perfection is contained therein, as Brother Giles, the companion of St Francis [of Assisi] said, when a certain person asked him what he could do in order to be perfect very soon. “Give,” he replied, “one to One.” That is to say, you have only one soul and there is only God – give your soul to Him and He will give Himself to you. The final cause [goal] of prayer, then, ought not to be to desire those tendernesses and consolations which our Lord sometimes gives, since union does not consist in that but rather, in conforming to the will of God.” (Sermon for the Third Sunday of Lent, given on 22 March 1615).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 1 March – Thursday of the First Week in Lent – Ezechiel 18:1-9, Matthew 15:21-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of Your eye, hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 16:8,2
“O woman, great is thy faith! be it done to thee as thou desire …” Matthew 15:28
FAITH St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“FAITH IS THE BASIS AND FOUNDATION of all the other virtues but particularly of hope and of charity. Now what I say of charity applies also to all the many virtues associated with it. When charity is united and joined to faith, it vivifies it. And so it follows that there is a dead faith and a dying faith.
Dead faith is faith separated from charity, a separation which prevents us from performing works, conformable to the faith we profess. This dead faith is that which many Christians – the worldly – have. Indeed, they believe all the Mysteries of our Holy Religion but since their faith is not accompanied by charity, they perform no good works which conform to their faith. Dying faith is that which is not entirely separated from charity. It performs some good works, although rarely and feebly, for charity cannot really be in the soul which has faith without performing works, either little or great. It must either produce or perish because it cannot exist without doing good works.
Just as the soul cannot remain in the body without producing vital actions, so charity cannot be united to our faith, without performing works conforming to it [Gal 5:6; Jas 2:14-26]. It cannot be otherwise. Therefore, do you want to know if your faith is dead or dying? Examine your works and actions. …
Dead faith resembles a dry tree that has no living substance at all. In springtime when other trees bud forth leaves and flowers, this one brings forth nothing because it does not have sap which those have that are not dead but only dormant. Now, here is another point. However much all other trees may look like this dead tree in winter, nevertheless, in their season they produce leaves, flowers and fruits. This never happens with the tree that is really dead. It may look like the other trees, to be sure but it is dead, for it never brings forth either flowers or fruit. Similarly, dead faith may indeed appear to be living faith but with this important difference – it bears neither the flowers nor the fruit of good works, while living faith always bears them,and in all seasons! (Sermon for Thursday after the First Sunday in Lent, 17 February 1622).
Our Morning Offering – 2 March – Thursday of the First Week in Lent
A Lenten Prayer By St Pope Pius V (1504-1572)
Look with favour, Lord, on Your household. Grant that, though our flesh be humbled by abstinence from food, our souls, hungering after You, may be resplendent in Your sight. Amen
St Pius V is the Pope of the Council of Trent, the Counter Reformation, the excommunication of Elizabeth I for Heresy and persecution of English Catholics and of the Battle of Lepanto, amongst many other illustrious and holy achievements.
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 1 March – Ember Wednesday
“The troubles of my heart are multiplied, deliver me from my necessities. See my abjection and my labour and forgive me all my sins.” Psalm 24:17-18
“The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgement with this generation and will condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah and behold, One greater than Jonah is here.” Matthew 12:41
REPENTANCE St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritatis
“LET ANYONE WHO IS STANDING BE FEARFUL lest he fall, says the Apostle [1 Cor 10:12]; let no-one glory in finding himself expressly called by God, to a place where there seems nothing to fear. Let no-one presume on his good works and think he has nothing more to fear. St Peter, who had received so many graces, who had promised to accompany Our Lord to prison and even to death itself [Lk 22:33], denied Him, nevertheless, at the whimpering taunt of a chambermaid! Judas sold Him for such a small sum of money!
These falls were both very great but there was this difference. One acknowledged his guilt; the other despaired. Yet, our Saviour had inspired in the heart of both, the same Peccavi [admission of guilt] (“I have sinned”) that same Peccavi that God inspired in David’s heart. [2 Kgs (2 Sm.) 12:13]. Yes, He inspired it in both Apostles but one rejected it and the other accepted it. Hearing the cock crow, St Peter remembered what he had done and the word his good Master had spoken to him. Then, acknowledging his sin, he went out and wept so bitterly [Matt 26:74-75; Lk 22:61-62] that he received what we today call a Plenary Indulgence and full remission of all his sins. O happy St Peter! By such contrition for your sins you received a full pardon for such great disloyalty!
From this time on, St Peter never ceased weeping, principally when he heard the cock crow at night and morning, for he remembered this crowing as the signal for his conversion. It is also reported that he shed so many tears that they hollowed his cheeks into two furrows. With these tears he, who had been a great sinner became a great saint. “O glorious St Peter, how happy you are to have done such great penance for such great disloyalty. By it you were reinstated in grace. You, who deserved eternal death became worthy of eternal life.” Not only that but St Peter received here below, special favours and privileges and was lavished with blessings on earth and in Heaven.
On the other hand, although Judas received the same inspiration for the same Peccavi, he rejected it and despaired. I know that efficacious and sufficient grace differ, as theologians say but I am not here to prove and dispute, whether Judas’ inspiration … was as efficacious as David’s, or only sufficient. It was certainly sufficient. This Peccavi, sent to the heart of Judas, was truly like that formerly sent to David. Why then was Judas not converted?
O miserable man! He saw the gravity of his crime and despaired. Truly, he confessed his sin, for in returning to the chief priests the thirty pieces of silver for which he had sold his good Master, he acknowledged aloud that he had sold innocent blood. [Matt. 27:3-5]. But these priests would give him no absolution. Alas, did not this unhappy man know that Our Lord alone could give it to him, that He was the Saviour and held Redemption in His hands? Had he not seen this truth clearly in those whose sins Jesus had remitted? Certainly, he knew it but he did not wish, nor dare to ask pardon. To make him despair, the devil showed him the enormity and hideousness of his crime and, perhaps, made him fear that if he asked his Master’s pardon, He might impose too great a penance. Perhaps, for fear of such penance, he was unwilling to ask for forgiveness. Thus, despairing, he hanged himself and his body burst wide open, all his entrails spilling out [Acts 1:18] and he was buried in the deepest of Hells.” – Sermon for Good Friday 25 March 1622.
Quote of the Day – 28 February – Tuesday of the First Week in Lent
“If we look forward to receiving God’s mercy, we can never fail to do good, as long as we have the strength. For if we share with the poor, out of love for God, whatever He has given to us, we shall receive according to His promise, a hundredfold in eternal happiness. What a fine profit, what a blessed reward! With outstretched arms He begs us to turn toward Him, to weep for our sins and to become the servants of love, first for ourselves, then for our neighbours. Just as water extinguishes a fire, so love wipes away sin.”
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 28 February – Tuesday of the First Week in Lent – Isaias 55:6-11, Matthew 21:10-17 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Let my prayer come like incense before You, O Lord” Psalm 140:2
“He said to them, It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’” Matthew 21:13
PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER… St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“LET US PERSEVERE IN PRAYER at all times. For if Our Lord seems not to hear us, it is not because He wants to refuse us. Rather, His purpose is to compel us to cry out louder and to make us more conscious of the greatness of His mercy. Those who understand the Hunt, know well that in winter, dogs cannot scent their prey. The cold air and frost prevent them from detecting their prey as easily as they do at other times. A similar thing happens in the spring. The variety and fragrance of the flowers takes away the facility of perceiving the animal’s scent. To remedy this the hunter puts some vinegar in his mouth and holding the dog’s head, squirts the vinegar into its nose. Now he does this not to discourage it from going in quest of its prey but rather, to urge and excite it to do its task.
In the same way, when Our Lord deprives us of sweetness and consolation, it is not to refuse us or to make us lose courage but He casts vinegar into our mouth, in order to excite us to draw so much closer to His Divine Goodness and to encourage us in perseverance.
It is also to elicit proofs of our patience. This was the third virtue which accompanied the Canaanite woman’s prayer. Seeing her perseverance, the Saviour desired to prove her patience, too. By this virtue we maintain, as far as possible, equality of mind among the inequalities of this life.” (Sermon for Thursday after the First Sunday of Lent, 17 February 1622),
Our Morning Offering – 28 February – Tuesday of the First Week in Lent and the last day of “The Month of the Blessed Trinitys”
Thou Hope of All the World and Lord Attri to St Boniface (672-754) Sarum Rite Breviary Transl. Fr Alan G McDougall (1895-1964)
Thou Hope of all the world and Lord, Bestower of the great reward, Receive the prayers Thou servants raise; Accept our psalms and hymns of praise.
And though our consciences doth proclaim Our deep transgressions and our shame, Cleanse us, O God, we humbly plead, From sins of thought and word and deed.
Our sins remember Thou no more, Forgive – Thy mercy can restore; So, take upon Thee, Lord our care, That, pure in heart, we make our prayer.
Therefore, accept, O Lord, this tide, Of fast which Thou have sanctified, That we, may reach by mystic ways The Sacraments of Paschal days.
May He, Who is the Threefold Lord, On us confer this high reward, In Whom so long as worlds abide, One Only God, is glorified. Amen
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 27 February – Monday of the First Week in Lent – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“My son, when you come to serve God, prepare your sould for temptation.” Ecclus. Sirach 2:1
“Then the devil left Him and behold, Angels came and ministered to Him.” Matthew 4:11
THESE FORTY DAYS … St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“I DOUBT NOT that many prefer the end of today’s Gospel (Mt 4:1-11) to its beginning. It is said there that after Our Lord had overcome His enemy and rejected his temptations, Angels came and brought Him heavenly food. What joy to find oneself with the Saviour at this delicious feast! My dear friends, we shall never be capable of keeping company with Him in His consolations, nor be invited to His Heavenly banquet, if we are not sharers of His labours and sufferings (2 Cor 1:7). He fasted for forty days but the Angels brought Him something to eat only at the end of that time.
These forty days, … symbolise the life of the Christian – of each one of us! Let us then desire these consolations only at the end of our lives and let us busy ourselves in steadfast resistance to the frontal attacks of our enemies. For whether we desire it or not, we shall be tempted. If we do not struggle, we shall not be victorious, nor shall we merit the crown of immortal glory which God has prepared for those of us, who are victorious and triumphant! Let us fear, neither the temptations nor the tempter, for if we make use of the Shield of Faith and the Armour of Truth, they will have no power whatsoever, over us.
… Let us also shun both spiritual avarice and the ambition which occasions so much disorder in our hearts and so greatly impedes our perfection. The noonday devil will be powerless in causing us to fail in our firm and steadfast resolution, to serve God generously and as perfectly as possible, in this life, so that after this life, we shall go to enjoy Him forever. May He be blessed ! Amen.” – (Extract-Sermon 1st Sunday of Lent – 13 February 1622).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 26 February – The First Sunday of Lent – 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 4:1-11 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“My son, when you come to serve God, prepare your soul for temptation.” Ecclus. Sirach 2:1
“At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1
TEMPTATION St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“IN THE FIRST PLACE, I note that although no-one can be exempt from temptation, still no-one should seek it or go of his own accord, to the place where it may be found, for undoubtedly, he who loves it will perish in it (Ecclus (Sirach 3:27). That is why the Evangelist says that Our Lord was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted – it was not then by His choice (I am speaking with regard to His human nature) that He went to the place of temptation but, He was led by the obedience He owed to His heavenly Father. …
If we are led by the Spirit of God to the place of temptation, we should not fear but should be assured that He will render us victorious! (1 Cor 10:13). But, we must not seek temptation, nor go out to allure it, however holy and generous we may think ourselves to be, for we are not more valiant than David, nor than our Divine Master Himself, Who did not choose to seek it. Our enemy is like a chained dog – if we do not approach, it will do us no harm, even though it tries to frighten us by barking at us. …
… No-one who comes to serve God can avoid temptations. … The great Apostle, St Paul, as soon as he had given himself to the Divine service and ranged himself on the side of Christianity, was immediately tempted for the rest of his life. (2 Cor 12:7). While he was an enemy of God and persecuted the Christians, he did not feel the attack of any temptation, or at least he has given us no testimony of it in his writings. But he did when he was converted by Our Lord.
Thus, it is a very necessary practice, to prepare our soul for temptation. That is, wherever we may be and however perfect we may be, we must rest assured that temptation will attack us. Hence, we ought to be so disposed and to provide ourselves with the weapons necessary to fight valiantly in order to carry off the victory – since the crown is only for the combatants and conquerors! (2 Tim 2:5; Jas 1:12). We ought never to trust in our own strength or in our courage and go out to seek temptation, thinking to confound it but, … if we encounter it, we must remain firm in the confidence which we ought to have that He will strengthen us against the attacks of our enemy, however furious they may be!.” (Extract-Sermon 1st Sunday of Lent – 13 February 1622).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 25 February – Saturday after Ash Wednesday – Isaias 58:9-14, Mark 6:47-56 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life. That I may see the delight of the Lord and may visit His temple.” Psalm 26:4
“Take courage, it is I be not afraid!” Mark 6:50
OUR COMPASS St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“ALL SHIPS HAVE A COMPASS which, when touched by the magnet, always turns towards the polar star. And even when the boat is making its way in a southward direction yet, the compass does not cease turning towards its north at all times.
In the same way, let the fine point of your spirit always turn towards God, its north. … You are about to take to the high seas of the world, do not, on this account, alter dial or mast, sail or anchor or wind. Keep Jesus Christ as your dial at all times, His Cross for a mast on which to hoist your resolutions, as a sail. Let our anchor be profound trust in Him and set out early. May the propitious wind of heavenly inspirations ever fill the sails of your vessel more and more and cause you to speed forward to the harbour of a holy eternity. …
Should everything turn upside down, I do not say around us but within us, that is to say, should our soul be sad, happy, in sweetness, in bitterness, peaceful, troubled, in light, in darkness, in temptation, in rest, in enjoyment, in disgust, in dryness, in gentleness, should the sun burn it or the dew refresh it, ah! this point of our heart, our spirit, our higher will, which is our compass, should, nevertheless, always and at all times, turn unceasingly, tend perpetually towards the love of God!” (From the Letters).
One Minute Reflection – 25 February – The First Saturday of Lent – Isaias 58:9-14, Mark 6:47-56 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And wherever He went, into village or hamlet or town, they laid the sick in the market places, and entreated Him to let them touch but the tassel of His cloak and as many as touched. Him were saved. ” – Mark 6:56
REFLECTION – “Let us set before our interior consideration, someone gravely wounded who is about to breathe his last. … Now, the soul’s wound is sin, of which Scripture speaks in these terms: “Wound and welt and gaping gash, not drained or bandaged or eased with salve” (Is 1:6). Oh you who are wounded, recognise your Physician within you and show Him the wounds of your sins. May He understand your heart’s groaning, Who already knows its secret thoughts. May your tears move Him. Go as far as a little shamelessness in your beseeching (cf. Lk 11:8). Bring forth deep sighs to Him, without ceasing, from the depth of your heart. May your grief reach Him so that He may say to you also : “The Lord has pardoned your sin” (2 Sam 12:13). Cry out with David, who said: “Have mercy on me, O God, in … the greatness of your compassion” (Ps 50[51]:3). It is as though one were to say: “I am in great danger because of an enormous wound, that no doctor can cure, unless the all-powerful Physician comes to help me.” For this all-powerful Physician, nothing is incurable. He heals without charge, with one word, He restores to health. I would have despaired of my wound, were it not that I placed my trust in the Almighty.” – St Pope Gregory the Great (c 540-604) Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on Psalm 50[51])
PRAYER – Hear, O Lord, our humble prayers and grant that we may devoutly keep this fast which has been established, to cure our souls and bodies. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 24 February – Friday after Ash Wednesday, Feast of St Matthias, Apostle
“ Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down and my rising up.” Psalm 138:1-2
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I Am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden light.” Matthew 11:29-30
ON FASTING 3 St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“THE THIRD CONDITION NECESSARY for fasting well, is to look to God and to do everything to please Him, withdrawing within ourselves in imitation of a great Saint, St Gregory the Great, who, withdrew into a secret and out-of-the-way place, where he remained for some time without anyone knowing where he was, being content that the Lord and His Angels knew it.
This is what Cassian, that great Father of the spiritual life, teaches us so well in the book of his admirable Conferences. (Many Saints held it in such esteem that they never went to bed without reading a chapter from it to recollect their mind to God.) He says: “What will it profit you to do what you are doing for the eyes of creatures? Nothing but vanity and complacency which are good for Hell alone. But if you keep your fast and do all your works to please God alone, you will labour for eternity, without delighting in yourself or caring whether you are seen by others or not, since what you do is not done for them, nor do you await your recompense from them. We must keep our fast with humility and truth and not with lying and hyocrisy – that is, we must fast for God and to please Him alone.” …
This is all I wish to tell you regarding fasting and what must be observed in order to fast well. The first thing is that your fast should be entire and universal – that is that you should make all the members of your body and the powers of your soul fast – keeping your eyes lowered … mortifying the hearing and the tongue, so that you will no longer hear or speak of anything vain or useless; … the memory, in filling it with the remembrance of bitter and sorrowful things and avoiding joyous and gracious thoughts; keeping your will in check and your spirit at the foot of the Crucifix, with some holy and sorrowful thought. If you do this, your fast will be universal, interior and exterior, for you will mortify both your body and your spirit. The second condition is that you do not observe your fast or perform your works, for the eyes of others and the third, is that you do all your actions and consequently, your fasting, to please God alone, to Whom be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.” – (Excerpt from the Sermon given for Ash Wednesday on 9 February 1622).
Our Morning Offering – 24 February – Friday after Ash Wednesday
Daily Morning Prayer Of St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
Lord, I lay before Thee my weak heart, which Thou fills with good desires. Thou knows that I am unable to bring the same to good effect, unless Thou bless and prosper them and, therefore, O Loving Father, I entreat Thee to help me by the merits and Passion of Thy dear Son, to Whose honour I would devote this day and my whole life. Amen
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 23 February – Ash Thursday
“Blessed is the man who feareth the Lord, he shall delight exceedingly in His Commandments.” Psalm 111:1
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not be seen fasting by men …” Matthew 6:17-18.
ON FASTING 2 St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“THE SECOND CONDITION is never to fast through vanity but always through humility. If our fast is not performed with humility, it will not be pleasing to God. All our ancient Fathers have declared it so but particularly, St Thomas, St Anbrose and the great St Augustine. St Paul, in the epistle which he wrote to the Corinthians (1 Cor 3) … declares the conditions necessary for disposing ourselves to fast well during Lent. He says this to us: “Lent is approaching. Prepare yourselves to fast with charity, for if your fast is performed without it, it will be vain and useless, since fasting, like all other good works, is not pleasing to God unless it is done in charity and through charity. When you disciopline yourself, when you say long prayers, if you have not charity, all that is nothing. Even though you should work miracles, if you have not charity, they will not profit you at all. Indeed, even if you should suffer martyrdom, without charity, your martyrdom is worth nothing and would not be meritorious in the eys of the Divine Master. For all works, small or great, however good they may be in themselves, are of no value and profit us nothing, if they are not done in charity and through charity,”
I say the same now – if your fast is without humility it is worth nothing and cannot be pleasing to the Lord! … Now, according to the Apostle, all that is done without charity is not pleasing to God, so I say, in the same way with this great Saint, that if you fast without humility, your fast is of no value. For if you have not humility you have not charity and if you are without charity, you are also without humility. It is almost impossible to have charity without being humble and to be humble withou having charity. These two virtues have such an affinity with one another that the one can never be without the other!
But what is this fast through humility? It is never to fast through vanity. Now how can one fast through vanity? … To fast through vanity is to fast through self-will, since this self-will is not without vanity or, at least, not without a temptation to vanity. And what does it mean to fast through self-will. It is to fast as one wishes and not as others wish – to fast in the manner which pleases us and not as we are ordered or counselled.
Let each one of us examine our consciences and we will find that all that comes from ourselves, from our own judgement, choice and election, is esteemed and loved far better, than that which comes from another!” – (Excerpt from the Sermon given for Ash Wednesday on 9 February 1622).
Quote/s of the Day – 22 February – Ash Wednesday – Joel 2:12-19, Matthew 6:16-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“… Behold, now is the acceptable time. behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6). And so, you must be more earnest in prayer and in alms-giving, in fasting and in watching. He that until now has given alms, in these days let him give more – for as water quencheth a flaming fire, so does almsgiving wipe out sin (Eccles 3:3). He that, until now, fasted and prayed, let him fast and pray still more – for there are certain sins which are not cast out, except by prayer and fasting (Mc 27:20).”
St Ambrose (340-397) Father and Doctor of the Church
“He need not fear anything, nor be ashamed of anything, who bears the Sign of the Cross on his brow.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no-one try to separate them, they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them, or not all together, you have nothing! So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others, you open God’s ear to yourself.”
St Peter Chrysologus (400-450) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Fasting, when rightly practised, lifts the mind to God and mortifies the flesh. It makes virtue easy to attain and increases our merits.”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
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