St. Francis de Sales and Salesian Spirituality II

This week we continue our look as St. Francis de Sales and Salesian spirituality. Last time we saw that all Christians have the call to be saints, but how we go about it is going to depend on the state of life we live in. As St. Francis wrote in his most well known book, Introduction to the Devout Life, the housewife in her kitchen is going to live the devout life differently than a contemplative nun, and a lawyer can’t spend hours in church like a monk in a monastery. Each has their own place, and own way to pray. Instead of spending long periods of time in prayer, active people need to find the little moments throughout the day to raise their minds and hearts to God.

In practical ways this can mean making sure we start the day with a Hail Mary or Our Father as soon as we wake up or praying before meals, even the when we eat in public (you’d be surprised at the positive witness this gives). Some of us commute to work, so playing a CD of holy music or of a spiritual talk in the car, or bringing a holy book to read on the bus or train can be a way of filling otherwise empty time. The church here is open until about four in the afternoon, so stopping by to pay a short visit to the Blessed Sacrament as you’re walking to the store or driving by is a way to make the day holy. And, of course, ending the day with prayer before bed is a must. Don Bosco always recommended three Hail Marys for the salvation of our souls.

Prayer is only the first step in the devout life. For life in Christ to be truly alive it must be lived out in action. Prayer allows us to transform our minds to be more like Jesus. The more we read and reflect on Sacred Scripture and read the lives of the saints and their writings the more we are to let them challenge us to be better, more faithful disciples no matter where we find ourselves in life.

But I must admit, there is one step that I did forget to mention. Before we can do any of this we must be honest with ourselves. We need to know who we are; our strengths and our weaknesses. Before the devout life can really be lived in its fullness we should make a good examination of conscience and go to confession. More on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and it’s place in Salesian Spirituality next time