To cure the itch there is not so much need to wash and bathe ourselves as to purify the blood.
It is not right all at once to show strong signs of this death to our natural passion.
We have not to carry the cross of others, but our own.
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
Behold a quantity of crosses and mortifications which you have neither chosen or wished; receive them, love them!
It is a thousand times better to die with our Lord than to live without Him.
It is a thousand times better to die with our Lord than to live without Him.
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 Brother Ass
It is far better to mortify the body through the spirit, than the spirit through the body.
The devil does not trouble himself much about us if, while macerating our bodies, we are at the same time doing our own will.
The spirit cannot tolerate the body when overfed, and if underfed, the body cannot tolerate the spirit.
It is far better to mortify the body through the spirit, than the spirit through the body.
The devil does not trouble himself much about us if, while macerating our bodies, we are at the same time doing our own will.
The spirit cannot tolerate the body when overfed, and if underfed, the body cannot tolerate the spirit.
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
I approve your keeping Brother Ass subdued, not so much by the abstinence of meats, as by abstinence from choice in them.
Do not flatter your body by delicacies in eating, sleeping and such other softnesses.
A continual and moderate sobriety is better than immoderate abstinences practiced from time to time.
Do not flatter your body by delicacies in eating, sleeping and such other softnesses.
A continual and moderate sobriety is better than immoderate abstinences practiced from time to time.
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
Softness of the mind is infinitely more dangerous than that of the body, inasmuch as the mind, being the nobler part, the disease is more difficult to cure.
Abstinence which is practiced against obedience takes away the sin from the body to put it in the heart.
So long as the enemy can enter our souls and torment us, he does not care how much we mortify our bodies.
Abstinence which is practiced against obedience takes away the sin from the body to put it in the heart.
So long as the enemy can enter our souls and torment us, he does not care how much we mortify our bodies.
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 are far too tender over our bodies, but incomparably more so as regards our souls.
As long as he who fasts, fasts for God, and he who fasts not, also fasts not for God, devotion is well satisfied with one as with the other.
As long as he who fasts, fasts for God, and he who fasts not, also fasts not for God, devotion is well satisfied with one as with the other.
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 Misery of Mind and Body
Make sickness itself a prayer.
What do you think the bed of tribulation is? It is simply the school of humility.
God never permits anything to come upon us as a trial or test of our virtue without desiring that we should profit by it.
Make sickness itself a prayer.
What do you think the bed of tribulation is? It is simply the school of humility.
God never permits anything to come upon us as a trial or test of our virtue without desiring that we should profit by it.
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
Our misery is the throne of God's mercy.
To love sufferings and afflictions for the love of God is the supreme point of most holy charity, for there is nothing therein to receive our affection save the will of God only.
It is not enough to be afflicted because God wills it; but we must be so as He wills it, when He wills, for as long as He wills, and exactly in the manner in which it pleases Him.
To love sufferings and afflictions for the love of God is the supreme point of most holy charity, for there is nothing therein to receive our affection save the will of God only.
It is not enough to be afflicted because God wills it; but we must be so as He wills it, when He wills, for as long as He wills, and exactly in the manner in which it pleases Him.
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
If it be God's will that the remedies overcome the sickness, return to Him thanks with humility; but if it be His will that the sickness overcome the remedies, bless Him with patience.
Look at afflictions in themselves, and they are dreadful; behold them in the will of God, and they are love and delights.
God's will is as much in sickness as in health.
Look at afflictions in themselves, and they are dreadful; behold them in the will of God, and they are love and delights.
God's will is as much in sickness as in health.
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 truly loving heart loves God's good pleasure not in consolations only, but, and especially, in afflictions also.
Many would be willing to have afflictions provided that they be not inconvenienced by them.
Desire to grow well, so that you may serve Him, but do not refuse to continue sick, that you may obey Him, and dispose yourself for death, if it be His pleasure, that you may praise Him.
Many would be willing to have afflictions provided that they be not inconvenienced by them.
Desire to grow well, so that you may serve Him, but do not refuse to continue sick, that you may obey Him, and dispose yourself for death, if it be His pleasure, that you may praise Him.
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
One ounce of patient suffering is worth far more than a pound of action.
Long illnesses are good schools of mercy for those who tend the sick, and of loving patience for those who suffer.
If done lovingly, there is no danger in complaining, nor in begging cure of your illness; only do this with love.
Long illnesses are good schools of mercy for those who tend the sick, and of loving patience for those who suffer.
If done lovingly, there is no danger in complaining, nor in begging cure of your illness; only do this with 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
If you cannot easily communicate often really, you can communicate as often as you like spiritually.
Disquietude arises from an inordinate desire to be delivered from the will which we experience, or to obtain the good for which we hope.
Take care of your health, that it may serve you to serve God.
Disquietude arises from an inordinate desire to be delivered from the will which we experience, or to obtain the good for which we hope.
Take care of your health, that it may serve you to serve 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
On The Poor in Spirit
Practice poverty of spirit in the midst of riches; practice richness in real poverty.
Take from your house what is in excess, and add to it what is wanting.
He is rich in spirit who has his riches in his spirit or his spirit in his riches; he is poor in spirit who has no riches in his spirit, nor his spirit in his riches.
Practice poverty of spirit in the midst of riches; practice richness in real poverty.
Take from your house what is in excess, and add to it what is wanting.
He is rich in spirit who has his riches in his spirit or his spirit in his riches; he is poor in spirit who has no riches in his spirit, nor his spirit in his riches.
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 much more desirable a thing it is to be poor in the house of God, than to dwell in the palaces of kings.
To desire to be poor, but not to be inconvenienced by poverty, is to desire the honor of poverty and the convenience of riches.
It is a dangerous thing for mortification and humility to make their abode in wealth.
To desire to be poor, but not to be inconvenienced by poverty, is to desire the honor of poverty and the convenience of riches.
It is a dangerous thing for mortification and humility to make their abode in wealth.
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 virtues which grow in prosperity are generally delicate and weakly.
Renouncements must be made quite gently, simply, and as if one made them for love and not from necessity of the struggle.
Be not ashamed to be poor, or to take alms in charity.
Renouncements must be made quite gently, simply, and as if one made them for love and not from necessity of the struggle.
Be not ashamed to be poor, or to take alms in charity.
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