Salesian Literature

LETTERS OF SFS

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Madame de Chantal

 

Since the life and person of Jeanne Françoise Frémyot de Chantal have been sketched in the introduction to this volume, it only remains to point out here a few characteristics present to some degree in all of Francis’s letters, which reach fullest expression in this the greatest of his correspondents, reflecting the greatest of his friendships.  For if it is true that for de Sales, letters of spiritual direction tend to be letters of spiritual friendship, then one may expect to find – above all and eminently here – the following facets of spiritual friendships: warm expressions of personal caring and concern focused on the spiritual welfare of the friend, but extending to her total well-being and indeed her entire family; reflections on the friendship relationship itself as a gift of God which grows and develops without ceasing to be gift; discussion of how the friendship can be nourished and sustained through God-given times of meeting and through continuing correspondence; recognition of the increasing mutuality of the relationship; recognition of the cross of the suffering in one another’s lives – supporting the other in inevitable trials, without interfering in a purifying process or attenuating the demands of the cross

 

All these themes are clearly present even in this small sample drawn from a total of over four hundred letters which Francis wrote to Jane.

 

Desire to attain fullness of Christian life

The bond of friendship

Do all through love, nothing through constraint

Let us always belong to God, unreservedly and without interruption

Humility and charity are the master ropes; all others are attached to them

Staying in God’s presence

Throw yourself into God’s arms

 

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