St. Francis de Sales
We are beginning a new series of reflections on Salesian Spirituality with excerpts from the “Living Jesus” booklet.
Today we begin with:
LOVING GOD WITH LIBERTY OF SPIRIT
A fundamental assumption in Salesian Spirituality is that the person created in God’s image is also created with free will. Therefore, each person has the opportunity to cooperate in his or her own salvation by daily choices. The virtue of indifference frees ones to be able to live in a spirit of liberty like the children of God described in the Gospels. “Ask for nothing, refuse nothing” is one of St Francis de Sales maxims that addresses freedom. This liberty neither asks for a specific result nor rejects what God puts before the human person. Human liberty leads one to care about what happens but places one’s priority on the concern that God’s will is accomplished, whatever the outcome. In practice, Salesian liberty becomes a freedom to serve. Generosity with one’s time and talent is paramount in the Salesian tradition.