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Saint for the
Month
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 SAINT
FRANCIS DE SALES
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Patron Saint
of Journalists
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Feastday:
January 24th
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Born in
France in 1567,
Francis was a patient man. He knew for thirteen years that he had
a vocation to the priesthood before he mentioned it to his family.
When his father said that he wanted Francis to be a soldier and
sent him to Paris to study, Francis said nothing. Then when he
went to
Padua
to get a doctorate in law, he still kept quiet, but he studied
theology and practiced mental prayer while getting into
swordfights and going to parties. Even when his bishop told him if
he wanted to be a priest that he thought that he would have a
miter waiting for him someday, Francis uttered not a word. Why did
Francis wait so long? Throughout his life, he waited for God's
will to be clear. He never wanted to push his wishes on God, to
the point where most of us would have been afraid that God would
give up!
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In 1602, he was made bishop of the diocese of
Geneva, in
Calvinist territory. Francis was overworked and often ill because
of his constant load of preaching, visiting, and instruction --
even catechizing a deaf man so he could take first Communion. He
believed the first duty of a bishop was spiritual direction and
wrote to Jane, "So many have come to me that I might serve them,
leaving me no time to think of myself. However, I assure you that
I do feel deep-down- within-me, God be praised. For the truth is
that this kind of work is infinitely profitable to me." For him,
active work did not weaken his spiritual inner peace but
strengthened it. He directed most people through letters, which
tested his remarkable patience. "I have more than fifty letters to
answer. If I tried to hurry over it all, I would be lost. At that
time, the way of holiness was only for monks and nuns -- not for
ordinary people. Francis changed all that by giving spiritual
direction to lay people living ordinary lives in the world. But he
had proven with his own life that people could grow in holiness
while involved in a very active occupation. Why couldn't others do
the same? His most famous book, INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE,
was written for these ordinary people in 1608. Written originally
as letters, it became an instant success all over Europe -- though
some preachers tore it up because he tolerated dancing and jokes!
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For Francis, the love of God was like romantic love. He
said, "The thoughts of those moved by natural human love are
almost completely fastened on the beloved, their hearts are filled
with passion for it, and their mouths full of its praises. When it
is gone, they express their feelings in letters, and can't pass by
a tree without carving the name of their beloved in its bark.
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The key to love of God was prayer. "By turning your eyes on
God in meditation, your whole soul will be filled with God. Begin
all your prayers in the presence of God." For busy people of the
world, he advised, "Retire at various times into the solitude of
your own heart, even while outwardly engaged in discussions or
transactions with others and talk to God."
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He believed the worst sin was to judge someone or to gossip
about him or her. Even if we say we do it out of love, we're still
doing it to look better ourselves. But we should be as gentle and
forgiving with ourselves as we should be with others.
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As he became older and more ill he said, "I have to drive
myself but the more I try the slower I go." He wanted to be a
hermit but he was more in demand than ever.
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The Pope needed him, then a princess, then Louis XIII. "Now
I really feel that I am only attached to the earth by one foot..."
He died on
December 28,
1622, after giving a nun his last word of advice: "Humility." He
is patron saint of journalists because of the tracts and books he
wrote.
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-Source:
Catholic Online
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IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
The Father Speaks
By Fr. S. Binzler, SJ
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Community Life
By Armand Sol
Sharing
By Princess Martillano
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
God Answers Prayers
By Beth Manibog
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
Saint for the Month
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