Salesian Literature

Letters on:

Overcoming Fear, Temptation, Failure and Discouragement

1. We must be patient as we seek perfection    ::    2. Have courage, for you have only just begun   ::    3. Be gentle and charitable to your soul

4. God loves greater infirmity with greater tenderness   ::    5. We must bear ourselves until God bears us to Heaven   

6. Self-love can be mortified, but never dies   ::    7. We must attain holy indifference   ::    8. Lean on the mercy of God

9. To change the world, we must change ourselves   ::    10. In patience shall you possess your soul   ::    11. Do not worry yourself about temptations  

12. We must not be fearful of fear   ::    13. Constrain yourself only to your serving God well   ::    14. True simplicity is always good and agreeable to God

15. We must do all by love and nothing by force   ::    16. Be then all for God

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16. Be then all for God

To a young woman, on giving oneself to God

 

My dearest daughter,

 

I say to you with all my heart, Adieu[1].  May you ever be “for God” in this mortal life, serving Him faithfully in the pain of carrying the Cross after Him here and in the heavenly life, blessing Him eternally with all the heavenly court.  It is the great good of our souls to be “for God,” and the greatest good to be only “for God.”

 

He who is only “for God” is never sorrow, except for having offended God; and his sorrow for that dwells in a deep but tranquil and peaceful humility and submission.  Then he raises himself up in the divine goodness, by a sweet and perfect confidence, without annoyance or bitterness.

 

He who is “for God” only, seeks Him only; and because God is not less in adversity than prosperity, such a one remains at peace in adversity.  He who is “for God” only, often thinks of Him amidst all the occupations of this life.  He who is “for God” only, wishes everyone to know whom he serves, and tries to take the means proper for remaining united to Him.

 

Be then completely “for God,” my dearest daughter, and be only His, only wishing to please Him, and His creatures in Him, according to Him, and for Him.  What greater blessing can I wish you?  Thus, then by this desire, which I will unceasingly make for your soul, my dearest daughter, I say to you Adieu; and praying that you often recommend me to His mercy, I remain,

 

Your most humble servant,

Francis

 

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[1] This letter is framed around a play on words. In French, the word for goodbye is Adieu, which literally means “for God” (a = for; Dieu = God).

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