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Selected Quotations

Live + Jesus!

St. Francis de Sales by Bro. Benedict Schmitz, OSFS, Ingolstadt, Germany

• "If we keep ourselves very little, God will not fail to be glorified in our lowliness."

• "Man needs God, and is hungry for His favors; God is full of all good things, and longs to give them."

• "Our weakness leaves us needy, in want of all God has to give; but God's fullness has no need of our emptiness, save as the overflow of His goodness."

• "You will always have God when you yourself want Him."

• "Learn from Me because I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest and peace of soul."

• "A soul that is so closely and firmly knit to God that it cannot be easily drawn away from Him is actually no longer in itself, but in God.  It is like ivy clinging to the wall."

• "Hold tightly to God in peace, trusting in His love for you.  Never let go!"

• "Trust in the Lord, lean on His providence, and fear nothing."

• "I found Him, whom my soul loves.  I held him and would not let him go."

• "Gaze on God simply and straightforwardly and let Him do as He pleases."

• "Stay close to God.  The gentleness of His shadow is more healthy than the brightness of the sun."

• "Let us lay our hearts to rest in the sweet and loving providence of the Lord; He warmly will shelter us under His holy protection."

• "'Learn of me,' He said, 'that I am humble and gentle of heart.' That says it all; to have a heart gentle toward one's neighbor and humble toward God. At every moment give this heart, the very heart of your heart, to our Savior."

• "The iris is said to draw its petals together at the sight of the sun.   Similarly in recollection our powers and faculties assemble and gather together within us out of respect for God's presence."

• "Not only in prayer, but in the conduct of your whole life, walk always in a spirit of simplicity.  Submit your whole soul, your actions to the good pleasure of God, confidently relying on the mercy and care of that eternal love which God has for you."

• "Truly humble persons become more courageous.  Realizing their weakness, they place all their confidence in God.  He is pleased to magnify His power in our weakness."

• "Imperfections must die with us, a little each day.  Dear imperfections, they force us to acknowledge our misery, give us practice in humility, selflessness, patience, and watchfulness; yet, notwithstanding, God looks at the preparation of our heart and sees that it is perfect."

• "Let us stay at our Lord's feet and remember 'little peddler-little pack' by practicing the ordinary virtues which are better suited to walking downhill than in climbing: patience, forbearance toward our neighbor, service of others, humility, gentleness of heart, affability, tolerance of our own imperfections."

• "Contemplation takes a completely simple, unified view of the object it loves.   It is a simple gaze."

• "Do all by love and nothing by force; love obedience rather than fear disobedience."

• "Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself."

• "We must be prepared to see weeds growing in our garden and also have the courage to pull them out."

• "You are vexed at the vexation, and then you are vexed for being vexed at the vexation.  So I have seen many who are angry for being angry. This is like rings made in water when a stone is thrown in. A little circle forms, and then this forms a greater, and this another. Laugh at the greater part of these troubles. Do not think about throwing them off; laugh at them, turn away to some action, try to sleep well, think you are St. John resting, going to sleep in the bosom of our Lord, in the arms of His providence."

books

• "Francis De Sales: Finding God Wherever You Are: Selected Spiritual Writings," by Joseph F. Power (Editor), paperback (New City Press 1995). "St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) wrote to the people of his time who were not called to live as priests but who wished to become holy as laypersons. Francis outlined a way in which people could live God's love fully with the alacrity and intensity that he called devotion within their families among their friends and in their places of work. Anyone seeking a deeper relationship with God and practical ways of carrying out this devotion in daily life will find this book valuable. Francis' teachings are as timely today as when he first wrote them." 

• "Francis De Sales: Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on the Love of God," by Wendy M. Wright, paperback (Crossroad 1994). "This popular presentation of the life and writings of one of the most influential figures in the history of Christianity includes many rich segments from the spiritual classics Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on the Love of God. Wright introduces the reader to the world of de Sales and distills from his masterworks the insights that are as applicable today as when first written."

• "Francis De Sales, Jane De Chantal : Letters of Spiritual Direction," by Wendy Wright and Joseph F. Power, paperback (Paulist Press 1988)

• "Serenity of Heart: Bearing the Troubles of This Life," by Saint Francis de Sales, paperback (1997). 

• "Set Your Heart Free: The Practical Spirituality of Francis De Sales (30 Days With a Great Spiritual Teacher)," by John J. Kirvan, paperback (Ave Maria Press 1997).

• "Thy Will Be Done: Letters to Persons in the World," by Saint Francis de Sales, paperback (Sophia Institute Press 1995).

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Last updated: 12-10-2001