Our final insights from St.
Francis de Sales’ “The Art of Loving God: Simple Virtues for the Christian
Life” are below. This
book is drawn for a series of Conferences [talks] that de Sales gave to the
Visitation Nuns in the early 1600’s.
Today reflect on the scripture below with Jesus and Peter:
Then think about Martha,
Mary and the Lord in this passage:
Consider the times you
have been like Martha, Mary and Peter, remembering that Jesus loves you fully,
totally and always, thank Him for that love now.
As we conclude our
selections from St. Francis de Sales’ The Art of Loving God, we will
focus on Chapters Thirteen thru Seventeen.
De Sales’ “The Art of Loving” might be an excellent meditation to read
during Lent.
[Chapter
Thirteen – Love God Simply] “… simplicity is nothing else than an act of pure
and simple charity, having only one aim and end, … to acquire the love of God;
our soul is simple when we have no other aim ….” [p. 105]
[Chapter
Fourteen – Be Untroubled by Public Opinion]
“Simplicity
… seeks nothing but the pure love of God
Simplicity
… thinks of itself
Simplicity
always follows the rule of God’s love.”
[pp. 117-118]
[Chapter
Fifteen – Abandon Yourself Wholly to God] “… God … will guide you.’ [p. 125]
[Chapter
Sixteen – Do Not Seek Special Crosses or Privileges] “… we must neither ask for
anything nor refuse anything, but must leave ourselves in the arms of Divine Providence
….” [P. 132]
[Chapter
Seventeen – Desire Nothing, Refuse Nothing] “So, too, ought we to desire
nothing and to refuse nothing, but to receive with perfect evenness of mind all
that the Providence of God may allow to happen to us.” [p.143]
We finished our walk with
Francis de Sales and hopefully we have a greater appreciation for loving God as
an Art. Jesus came to show us that art and we are
called to practice and learn it until we go to “the land of the living.”
May God Be Blessed!
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