Salesian Literature
A Spirituality for Everyone
St. Francis de Sales presents a spirituality that can be practised by everyone in all walks of life
© 2017 Fr. Joseph Kunjaparambil (KP) msfs. E-mail: kpjmsfs@gmail.com Proudly created with Wix.com
INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE
Chapter 32: Forbidden games
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Games of dice, cards and the like in which success depends mainly on chance are not only dangerous pastimes, like dances, but they are simply and naturally evil and blameworthy. Hence, they are forbidden both by civil and church law. “What great harm is there in them?” You would ask me. The success in these games is decided not by reason but by chance. Often it falls to the one who does not deserve it either for his competence or for his skill. In this, therefore, reason is violated. “But we have agreed upon it,” you may insist. It serves to show that he who wins does no wrong to others, but it does not follow that the agreement is not unreasonable and the game as well. For success which is to be the reward of competence is made the reward of chance, which is not worthy of any prize since it does not depend on us in any way.
Besides this, these games are called recreation and are organized for it. Yet, there are by no means such but oppressive occupations. Is it not an occupation to keep the mind tied down and strained by continual concentration and disturbed by continual anxiety, fears and eagerness? Is there any attention more sad, more gloomy and depressing than that of the players? That is why, we must not speak about the game, we must not laugh, we must not cough, otherwise they will lose their temper.
Finally there is no joy at all in gambling except for the winner. Is not this joy unrighteous since it cannot be had except through the loss and grief of the companions in the game? This joy is indeed sordid. For these reasons, such games are forbidden. The great king St. Louis hearing that the Count of Anjou, his brother and M. Gautier de Nemours were gambling, rose up though he was sick and went staggering to their room. There, he took the table, the dice and a part of the money and threw them out of the window into the sea, being extremely angry with them. The holy and chaste maiden, Sara, speaking to God of her innocence says: You know, O Lord, that I never joined with those who play (Tobit 3:14-15 RSV).
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