The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales

[Denise]

Those who desire to live according to nature should stay in the world, and only those enter Religion who are determined to live according to grace.

Do not attach yourself to anything so much as to the religious rules, so that you go where the rules draw you.

One can be a good religious without reciting in choir, without wearing this or that particular habit, without abstinence from such or such things; but without poverty and community of goods, no one can be so.

[Denise]

It is no use to say our veil, our dress, our tunic or our linen, if in fact the use of them is not indifferent and common to all.

There are evil spirits that go to and fro in desert places quite as much as in cities.

Let not yourself be misled by past errors, or of future hardships in this crucified life of religion.

[Denise]

Bees from time to time quit their hive, but only from necessity or for purpose of utility, returning to it as quickly as possible.

The religious who has begun well has not done all, unless he preservers even to the end.

[Denise]

On Friendship

To those who find the doors of religion as well as of marriage closed to them, a holy friendship is nigh indispensable for the welfare of their souls.

The friendship of well-regulated souls is extremely useful to us to keep our own well-regulated.

Perfection does not consist in having no friendships at all, but in having that which is good, holy and sacred.

[Denise]

What is there to be loved and desired if friendship is not!

Heaven and earth are not distant enough to separate the hearts which our Lord has joined.

Friendship pours out its grace upon all the actions of him who is loved, however little ground of favor there may be.

[Denise]

How far more constant are the friendships founded in charity than those whose foundation is in flesh and blood.

Friendship requires the exchange of good, not evil.

The bitternesses of friends are sweets.

[Denise]

We must love our friends notwithstanding their, but we must not love their imperfections. imperfections.

The friendship which ends in fine words is not of great worth.

Mere earthly friendships are not apt to last, their origin being so frail that the slightest contradiction chills them.

[Denise]

Friendship which could never end was never true.

Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.

You know the spot where out hearts meet-there they can see one another in spite of the distance of places.

[Denise]

Never think that distance of a place can ever separate souls which God has united by the ties of His love.

It is absolutely necessary for friendship that reciprocity should exist between the two who love each other, and that this friendship should be contracted through the actions of reason.

Change of scene is a very great help to alleviate the heat and restlessness, whether of sorrow or of love.

There is nothing like separation of dwellings to preserve union of hearts between those of opposite, although good, characters and aims.

[Denise]

THE LITTLE VIRTUES

Occasions are not often presented for the exercise of fortitude, magnanimity and great generosity; but simplicity, humility and gentleness are virtues wherewith all the actions of our life should be tempered.

Let us practice certain little virtues proper for our littleness.

On Simplicity

There is no artifice as good and desirable as simplicity.

Simplicity always follows the rule of the love of God.

Holy simplicity does not run after its words and actions, but leaves the result of them to Divine Providence.

[Denise]

Do not examine your soul so much about its advancement.

The pilgrim who spends all his time counting his steps will make little headway.

Walk simply, do not desire repose of spirit too earnestly, and you will have the more of it.

[Denise]

I recommend to you holy simplicity; look before you, and regard not those dangers which you see afar off.

Those who run best in the race do not think of the crowd which is looking at them.

The nightingale loves her melody no less when she makes pauses than when she sings; the devout heart loves love no less when she turns to exterior necessities than when she prays.

[Denise]

Great works lie not always in our way, but every moment we may do little ones with excellence, that is, with great love.

If humility prevents me from playing the wise man, simplicity will likewise prevent me from playing the fool.

If the prudence of the serpent be not tempered with the simplicity of the dove of the Holy Spirit, it is always poisonous.

[Denise]

The grace of concealing a grace is in itself not slight.

Be neat, but be on guard against affection, vanity and singularity.

The man who makes false excuses actually accuses himself most forcibly; but the man who accuses himself in true simplicity deserves to be mercifully excused.

In everything I love simplicity.

[Denise]

On Humility

Humility is a descending charity and charity is an ascending humility.

Do not desire not to be what you are, but desire to be very well what you are.

He who stays not in his littleness, loses his greatness.