Salesian Literature

Salesian Views on

::   Sacraments  ::   Self-love  ::   Self-purification  ::   Simplicity  ::   Spiritual Direction  

::   Spiritual Exercises  ::   Spiritual Integration  ::   Spirituality  ::   Suffering  ::   Surrender

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

​

Self-love

 

Self-love can be mortified, but never dies

Letter to a nun, on the mask that self-love wears. Self-love can be mortified in us, but still it never dies; indeed, from time to time and on different occasions, it produces shoots in us, which show that, although cut off, it is not rooted out.  This is why we have not the consolation that we ought to have when we see others do well.  For what we do not see in ourselves is not so agreeable to us; and what we do see in ourselves is very sweet to us, because we love ourselves tenderly and amorously. 

 

We must attain holy indifference

Letter to Madame de Herse, on struggling against self-love. When we happen to break the laws of indifference in indifferent things, or by the sudden sallies of self-love and our passions, let us at once, as soon as we can, prostrate our heart before God, and say, in a spirit of confidence and humility, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak” (Ps. 6:3; RSV Ps. 6:2).  Let us arise in peace and tranquillity, knot again the thread of our indifference, and then continue our work. 

 

Letter to a Wife and Mother, 12: To pry too closely and eagerly into our behaviour, to see whether we have acted rightly, is undoubtedly a sign of self-love.  This makes us want to know if we are successful, when true love of God tells us to humble ourselves in God’s mercy, always ask his pardon, renew our promise to be faithful, and go on trying to come closer to him. 

 

Letter to a Wife and Mother, 16: Self-love is the sole reason we grow impatient at seeing ourselves insignificant and contemptible.  I implore you in the name of Jesus Christ, whom we both love, to take comfort and remain unruffled by your frailty.

​

Back to Top

​