Salesian Literature

10.   One Thing at a Time

 

Dear Francis de Sales,

 

I do wish I could talk to you, instead of having to write.  I don’t seem to be able to explain myself properly in a letter.  I’m so worried at the moment because I feel heavy and tired these days.

 

I feel I can’t make much effort, and the thought of death frightens me, because I don’t think I’m doing as much as I could and my failings seem to be getting worse.

 

I wish I could get away from my house-work for good, then I could really take myself in hand.  Please pray for me.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. A. Christine

 

Dear Mrs. Christine,

 

Of course you would be able to explain yourself more freely and clearly if your could talk to me than you can by letter.  However, until God allows us to meet we must use the only way left to us.

 

You can’t help being wearied by your bodily weaknesses, the lethargy and languid numbness which you feel.  There’s nothing to be afraid of, however, as long as you are firmly resolved to serve God.

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After all, these are only natural imperfections, diseases rather than sins.  Still, you must try to be as brave and as spiritually active as you can.

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Death is certainly a grim thought.  But surely the life beyond, which God in his mercy will give us, surely that life is worth it. 

 

Whatever happens, we must not cease to trust in God.  We are weak, it is true, but God’s mercy is far greater than our weakness.  He is merciful to those who want to love him and have put their trust in him.

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When St. Charles Borromeo was dying he asked to be given a crucifix so that the contemplation of his Saviour’s death might soften the terrors of his own.  The best of all remedies for the fear of death is the thought of him who is our life.  We ought never to think of the one without the other.

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Don’t worry yourself as to whether what you are doing is little or much, good or bad, as long as it is not sinful and that you are tying to do it for God.

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Try to do everything as well as you possibly can.  When you have done one thing, forget about it and concentrate on the next.  Go our Lord’s way quite simply and don’t upset your peace of soul.

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We must detest our faults, but we should do so quietly and calmly, not irritably and anxiously.  We must learn to have patience to put up with the sight of them and let them teach us the lesson of humility.

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By being so acutely conscious of your imperfections, you will be even more acutely worried about them.  In this way they will grow stronger, for nothing is more favourable to growth of weeds in our souls than our agitated efforts to remove them.

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To be depressed because one is fed up with the world is a great temptation as long as one is bound to remain there.  God’s providence is wiser than we are.  We fancy that if we changed our state in life we should do better.  Possibly, if wee changed ourselves!

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I am the sworn enemy of such desires; they are useless, dangerous and bad.  Even though what we desire may be good, the desire itself is bad, since God wants us to do our best where we are and not where we would like to be.

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God wants to speak to us from the thorn bush, as he did to Moses; we want him to speak in the whisper of a gentle breeze, as he did to Elijah.

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May God have you ever in his safe keeping.  Be faithful; keep your courage high; and rejoice that he has given you the grace to want to be entirely his.  I am in him

 

Very devotedly yours,

Francis de Sales

(Source:  Annecy, 20 January 1609.  Annecy Edition, XIV, 119-121)

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