Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales - March

[Hildegard of Bingen]

Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales



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


MARCH 28th (page 89)

     It is better to learn to live without anger than to try to employ it wisely and moderately. When, through imperfection or weakness, we find ourselves victims of this passion,it is better to drive it away quickly than to start entertaining it. Once we start dallying with it, we let it take control . . . So we must immediately gather all our forces and cry out to God with gentleness, "Have pity on me."

(INT. Part III, Ch. 8; O. III. p. 164)

     On March 28th, 1600, Francis de Sales gave a conference to the Brothers of the Holy Cross of Annecy, in which he pointed out to them that Providence had assigned toeach person a cross, regardless of his or her age or condition. This great bishop had a particular devotion to the Lord's passion. In this own hand he had written an account of it in a notebook which he always carried close to his heart as shield against his enemies .

(A.S. III, p. 702)

To carry God on the tongue with beautiful words, to carry God in the heart with beautiful affections,

is not everything.

We must carry Him, like Simeon, in our arms,with good works.

The bed of the sick is an altar of sacrifice.