Salesian Literature

4.   Combining Frailty with Fidelity

 

Dear Francis de Sales,

 

Please forgive me bothering you with my letters, but it helps sometimes just to mention my difficulties.  I am still worried about my failings.  Although I go regularly to Church and say my prayers every day, I still find it a struggle to be good.  I’ve tried telling myself that I ought to be ashamed of my weakness, but it doesn’t help very much.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. A. Christine

 

 

Dear Mrs. Christine,

 

Whenever you feel that writing to me will help you in any way I really want you to do so quite confidently.

 

There are two things we should combine: a genuine attempt at exact observance of all the practices of the spiritual life and an effort to remain unruffled by our occasional lapses.

 

The genuineness of the attempt depends on our fidelity, which should always be unshakable and growing constantly stronger.  The lapses are the result of human frailty, which it is impossible to escape in this life.

 

When faults occur we should ask ourselves whether our resolve to serve God is still whole-hearted and sincere.  I hope that we shall be able to give a reassuring answer, determined to suffer a thousand deaths rather than break our resolution.

 

But let us question ourselves further: “Why, then, have we fallen now?  Why are we so fainthearted?” ”For some unknown reason,” will come our answer, “we have been surprised; and now we are weighed down like this.”

 

We must forgive ourselves.  We did not fail through infidelity, but through frailty.  We need to correct ourselves gently and calmly, and not be annoyed or perplexed with ourselves any longer.

 

“Well now,” we ought to say, “in God’s name let us take heart and continue carefully on our way, lifting hp our minds and hearts to God, our refuge and our help.”

 

We must deal very kindly with our souls, and never scold them as long as it is obvious that they’ve been taken unawares.  In doing this, you see, we shall be practising humility.

 

Working out our salvation is our way of serving God; after all, it was all our Lord did during his earthly life.  Don’t be in a hurry to fight but await the struggle with calm assurance.

 

May our Lord be your strength.  I am in him.

 

Your devoted Servant,

Francis de Sales

(Source:  Annecy, 28 May 1608.  Annecy Edition. XIV, 26-27)

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