Salesian Literature

Salesian Views on

::   Patience  ::   Peace  ::   Perfection  ::   Perseverance  ::   Poverty  ::   Prayer  ::   Propriety 

::   Providence

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Perfection

 

Letter to Madame Brûlart

Everyone is obliged to strive for the perfection of Christian life, because Our Lord commands that we be perfect and St. Paul says the same (Mt. 5:48; 2 Cor. 13:11).  Perfection of Christian life consists in conforming our wills to that of our good God, who is the sovereign standard and norm for all actions.  So in order to acquire perfection we must always consider and recognize what God’s will is in everything that concerns us, so that we can flee what He wants us to avoid and accomplish what He wants us to do. 

 

A Disciple’s heart

Corrignan, Francois.  The Spirituality of Francis de Sales: A Way of Life [A Disciple’s Heart].  We must begin with the heart, a heart enlightened and guided by reason, a heart which remembers.  This presupposes a heart which is always available and an individual always “ready to learn.” 

 

Patiently accepting being less than perfect

Letter to Madame de la Flechere.  If you happen to do something that you regret, be neither astonished nor upset, but, having acknowledged your failing, humble yourself quietly before God and try to regain your gentle composure.  Say to your soul: “There, we have made a mistake, but let’s go on now and be more careful.”  Every time you fall, do the same.

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