Salesian Literature

18.   A Call to Arms

 

Dear Francis de Sales,

 

Once again I don’t seem to be getting anything out of my prayers.  They’re so dry and lifeless these days.  Still, I do try to stick at them all the same.  The only drawback is that God seems so far away that I sometimes give way to my temptations.

 

I’ve been trying to get on with my husband’s people at home, but it doesn’t seem to work somehow.  No matter what I do, it doesn’t please them.  They make life very difficult.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. A. Christine

 

 

Dear Mrs. Christine,

 

Come, now!  What would you have me say about the return of your troubles except that when the enemy reappears we must take up our arms afresh and rally our courage so as to fight more resolutely than ever.

 

I don’t see anything very serious in your letter; only be extremely careful not to allow yourself any misgivings as to God’s goodness.  If he lets you fall like this, it doesn’t mean that he has deserted you.  It is only to keep you humble and make you hold on to his sympathetic hand with a firmer and a tighter grip.

 

I’m so pleased that you are continuing your spiritual exercises in spite of the recurrence of your aridities and interior weariness.

 

I’m glad, because our only motive in serving God is that we love him.  Since he is more pleased with our service when we are suffering from aridity than when our prayers afford us every satisfaction, we should prefer it too – at least in the higher part of our souls.  Although from the point of view of our self-love serenity and sympathy are more pleasant, from the point of view of God’s love aridity is more beneficial.

 

And now for your temporal concerns: since you have tried to them right, without success, you must now practise patience and resignation, cheerfully embracing the cross which has fallen to your lot.

 

Remain in peace. Often tell our Lord that you want to be what he wants you to be and to suffer what he wants you to suffer.  Keep up a persevering resistance to your impatience by practising continually, welcome, or unwelcome, the virtues of kindliness and gentleness towards those who most vex and annoy you.  God will bless your efforts.

 

I am in him, with all my heart, sincerely yours

Francis de Sales

(Source:  Annecy, 17 August 1611.  Annecy Edition, XV, 89-90)

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