We must take care that what we do not expect from our strength we do expect from the grace of God.
One ounce of sanctifying grace is worth more than a hundred pounds of those graces all theologians call "gratuitous" of which the gift of miracles is one.
He who has done you the grace of making the first stroke, will Himself make with you the others; and because His hand is entirely paternal, either will do it insensibly, or if He let you feel it, He will give you the needed constancy and gladness.
The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
Moderator: Denise
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
How can the ardour of love possibly make one desire to be separated from grace, since love is grace itself?
If you lie to the Holy Ghost, it is no wonder he should refuse His consolations.
God pours His love no less over one soul, though He loves it with an infinity of others, than if He loved that one only.
If you lie to the Holy Ghost, it is no wonder he should refuse His consolations.
God pours His love no less over one soul, though He loves it with an infinity of others, than if He loved that one only.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
Things which God does by a peculiar grace we make too much of an affair of state, and put too much worldly policy into it.
How often does it happen that we say good things because some good soul gets us the grace to do so! We are like organs, where he who gives the wind really does the whole work and gets no praise for it.
When God calls anyone to Christianity He obliges Himself to furnish him with all that is required for being a good Christian.
How often does it happen that we say good things because some good soul gets us the grace to do so! We are like organs, where he who gives the wind really does the whole work and gets no praise for it.
When God calls anyone to Christianity He obliges Himself to furnish him with all that is required for being a good Christian.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
Blessed be the wind, whencesoever it comes, that makes us speed to a good port.
We must desire to love and love to desire what can never be enough or loved.
Love celestial desires, and desire celestial love.
We must desire to love and love to desire what can never be enough or loved.
Love celestial desires, and desire celestial love.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
We never desire, with a true desire, anything which is not possible.
To desire something for any reason than for God is to desire God less.
Desiring to love, the noble spirit receives pain; but loving to desire, he receives sweetness.
To desire something for any reason than for God is to desire God less.
Desiring to love, the noble spirit receives pain; but loving to desire, he receives sweetness.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
To desire to love God is to love to desire Him, and hence to love Him; for love is the root of all desires.
God only values man for his soul, and the soul only for its will, and the will only for its love.
The will only loves while willing to love.
Christ came to bless good wills, and little by little He will make them fruitful and of good effect.
God only values man for his soul, and the soul only for its will, and the will only for its love.
The will only loves while willing to love.
Christ came to bless good wills, and little by little He will make them fruitful and of good effect.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
There are no galley slaves in the royal vessel of Divine Love--every man works his oar voluntarily.
We have freedom to do good or evil; yet to make choice of evil, is not to use, but to abuse our freedom.
Grace is so gracious that she in no way offends the liberty of our will.
God presses us but does not oppress our liberty.
We have freedom to do good or evil; yet to make choice of evil, is not to use, but to abuse our freedom.
Grace is so gracious that she in no way offends the liberty of our will.
God presses us but does not oppress our liberty.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
God will do your work with you if you will do His work with Him.
God would never have rejected you if you had not rejected His love.
It is our part to plant and water carefully, but to give increase---that belongs only to God.
God would never have rejected you if you had not rejected His love.
It is our part to plant and water carefully, but to give increase---that belongs only to God.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
The farmer will never be reprehended for not having a good harvest, but only if he did not carefully till and sow his ground.
God did not deprive you of the operation of His love, but you did deprive His love of your co-operation.
No creature can take us away by force from holy love; we only can abandon it by our own will.
God does not forsake unless forsaken; He never takes away His gifts till we take away our hearts.
God did not deprive you of the operation of His love, but you did deprive His love of your co-operation.
No creature can take us away by force from holy love; we only can abandon it by our own will.
God does not forsake unless forsaken; He never takes away His gifts till we take away our hearts.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
It is the will only that God desires, but all the other powers run after it to be united to God with it.
Promptitude in doing the will of God is a wonderful means of drawing down great and powerful graces for the accomplishment of every good work.
No servant of God can be without this desire; Oh how greatly I wish to serve God better.
Promptitude in doing the will of God is a wonderful means of drawing down great and powerful graces for the accomplishment of every good work.
No servant of God can be without this desire; Oh how greatly I wish to serve God better.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
On the Love of God
The love of God is the end, the perfection and the excellence of the universe.
The love of God is a love without peer, because the goodness of God is peerless goodness.
It is the great good of our souls to be "to God," and the greatest good to be only "to God."
The love of God is the end, the perfection and the excellence of the universe.
The love of God is a love without peer, because the goodness of God is peerless goodness.
It is the great good of our souls to be "to God," and the greatest good to be only "to God."
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
The love of men toward God takes its being, progress and perfection from the eternal love of God before men.
That which is not God is for us nothing.
We retire to God because we aspire to Him, and we aspire to Him in order to retire to Him.
He who most loves will be most loved.
That which is not God is for us nothing.
We retire to God because we aspire to Him, and we aspire to Him in order to retire to Him.
He who most loves will be most loved.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
Charity is a love of friendship.
The love of complacency draws God into our hearts, but he love of benevolence casts our hearts into God.
Happy is the heart that loves God without pretense of any other pleasure than that it takes in pleasing God!
We must seek in God only the love of His beauty, not the pleasure which is in the beauty of His love.
The love of complacency draws God into our hearts, but he love of benevolence casts our hearts into God.
Happy is the heart that loves God without pretense of any other pleasure than that it takes in pleasing God!
We must seek in God only the love of His beauty, not the pleasure which is in the beauty of His love.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
Truth which is not charitable, springs from a charity that is not true.
He who communicates according to the spirit of the Spouse annihilates himself, and says to Our Lord, "Annihilate me and convert me into Thee."
God looks at the intention of the heart rather than the gifts He is offered.
He who communicates according to the spirit of the Spouse annihilates himself, and says to Our Lord, "Annihilate me and convert me into Thee."
God looks at the intention of the heart rather than the gifts He is offered.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Re: The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales
All is made for charity, and charity for God.
There is nothing small in the service of God.
When the house is on fire, people are ready to throw everything out of the window; when the heart is full of God's love, people are certain to look upon all else as of little worth.
There is nothing small in the service of God.
When the house is on fire, people are ready to throw everything out of the window; when the heart is full of God's love, people are certain to look upon all else as of little worth.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales