We  discussed St. Francis de Sales and his discussion of the holiness of St. Anthony of the Desert. We talked about what St. Francis says about faithfulness to our vocation in life, and how it relates to holiness.

In addressing his spiritual daughters, the Visitation Nuns, in his Spiritual Conferences, St. Francis de Sales used the example of St. Anthony the Abbot as a model for true holiness. He exhorted the Sisters in this manner:

” But, my dear daughters, I entreat you to consider a little the life of those great religious, for instance, of a St. Antony, who has been honored by God and man on account of his very great sanctity.

Tell me, how did he arrive at so great a degree of sanctity and perfection? Was it by dint of reading, or by conferences and frequent communions, or by the multitude of the sermons that he heard? By no means; he arrived at it by making use of the example of the holy hermits, taking the abstinence of one, the prayer of another, and thus, like an industrious bee, he went about gathering and collecting the virtues of the servants of God, to compose of them the honey of a holy edification.

SrSusan (guest): Did you get the short newsletter for tonight?

K (guest): Yes I did and I read through it.

Jan 19 2014, 7:31 PM

K (guest): I am not sure what St. Francis de Sales is saying.

SrSusan (guest): About Communion you mean?

That was confusing but in those days people did not receive frequently

I think St Francis meant we grow in holiness by actions and not merely by reading or listening to Conferences

But certainly today Holy Communion daily helps us have Jesus live in us!

K (guest): No. I guess it did make sense to me when he said St. Anthony was a saint because he applied himself to what he had been called.

K (guest): I did think about how one saint seems to grow through the work and holiness of another.

SrSusan (guest): Yes it was his application true; but I admit I would disagree with my own Founder about Holy Communion. It took St Pius 10th to help us with frequent Communion in the Church

Yes that is an interesting point- how our examples influence one another

I think the point is growth in virtue

K (guest): We are so blessed to be able to receive Holy Communion often, even daily.

SrSusan (guest): Yes very blessed and I truly wish I allowed Jesus in me every day to live more fully and not cut His actions off with my weaknesses

SrSusan (guest): I find Holy Communion is very strengthening- He loves us no matter what and keeps coming to us

SrSusan (guest): Hi  Any others confused by St Francis quote

K (guest): I ask the Holy Spirit to make me ready to receive Jesus and to cooperate with this great grace.

SrSusan (guest): Beautiful- good preparation for receiving Our Lord

SrSusan (guest): I find here that a very charitable Sister is a good example but I still find it hard to reach her heights!

SrSusan (guest): So gathering and collecting the virtues of the servants of God, to compose of them the honey of a holy edification. – is not always so easy

SrSusan (guest): Who are some of your examples of virtuous living?

K: We just keep trying. We don’t know what may be easier or more difficult for one person than another.

Al: Jesus of course and Mary his mother. Joseph. Mother theresa

Pope Francis

Bishop Malone and Father Paul

K(guest): Some of the Hispanic families that I see, working so hard to provide for their family, praying together as a family, etc….

Al: So many ordinary people that have hard lives

Sometimes you can’t even tell that they are suffering…

SrSusan (guest): So many who call us for prayer and struggle with so many issues but never lose hope

Al: yes

Jan 19 2014, 7:45 PM

K (guest): Also priests, who are always giving.

Al: A priest, sometimes lives a lonely kind of life

he is not in a group as are sisters

SrSusan (guest): Years ago families would invite priests to dinner etc. I don’t know if that still happens in parishes

Al: I remember that. My mom would invite our priest over and when he entered the house we would all stand

K (guest): They still do around here, but I don’t know if it is as much as in the pas

Al I think people do still here too – not as frequently

K (guest): There are also well known (celebrities) who live the faith and are examples to follow, most just don’t know their story.

Al: Can you give us an example?

K (guest): Raymond Aroryo on EWTN has some very interesting interviews. Most recently I saw Tim Conway and then James Carvel and his wife Madylyn ???

SrSusan (guest): Really! Oh!

Al: wow thats good :

K (guest): I saw a lady who used to be on the show “The View” also recently.

SrSusan (guest): That would be a great idea for school kids to know and learn about- famous Christians

SrSusan (guest): Did either of you have any special questions or topics you wanted esp to bring up, by the way?

K (guest): Yes to see that God uses people from all walks of life.

Al: true and some folks just dont tell others what they are doing. an older woman i work with, 78, gives the money she makes to her grandkids for piano lessons M

I do Sister. Lately I have been watching Catholic apologetics and Catholic shows on youtube PM

the non catholics ar attacking the sites

SrSusan (guest): With their responses?

K(guest): what have you watched Alice?

Al: yes and then even though I am a strong Catholic…

I start to think over their crazy ideas!

SrSusan (guest): Like what ideas?

Al: my question- how to keep my faith strong under attack ,

SrSusan (guest): and know your catechism

Am: Keep your eyes on Jesus

K (guest): Keep praying and receiving the Sacraments and learning more about the Faith.

Am: Invoke the Holy Spirit to help

Alt: thank you

8 PM

K(guest): Know that Satan is doing all he can to attach Truth.

Al: they are comments usually i would just brush off

Ki(guest): what kind of comments Alice?

Jan 19 2014, 8:00 PM

SrSusan (guest): Why is it you were able to brush them off and now find yourself entertaining these ideas?

Alt: ok like how their religion started because they said ours ws corrupt

8:01 PM

I know in my heart its not true

but lately i have been going through some kind of crazy testing!

SrSusan (guest): Goes back to our earlier comments when we were talking about the influence of good examples- sometimes the less than good examples confuse people

Al: please someone tell me you know what i am talking about! LOL

K (guest): The Church is holy, but very often not the people.

Am: Can you be more specific?

R (guest): Hi, on a tablet so typing slow

SrSusan (guest): – do you think there are no errors or sinners in other traditions?

Am: Like the crusades?

C: I think that being tested is a sign that you are actually very close to Jesus

Sr. Mary Roberta: More likely the Inquistion

Al I am really sad and upset about it

Am: How can you talk to someone about the inquisition?

Jan 19 2014, 8:05 PM

Sr. Mary Roberta: That’s where a spiritual director comes in handy!

SrSusan (guest): That they made such a comment; that you are tested, or that we do have sinners in the Church?

Al: the comments are directed to all Catholics

Sr. Mary Roberta: Time to read Church history more in depth

K (guest): I remember how sad and disappointed I was when I discovered that all was not rosy in the history of the Church. 8:06 PM

C: Church is holy but comprised of sinners I think

Al: I will read Church history more thank you

K (guest): or in the present

Sr. Mary Roberta: But it’s definitely not rosy among the 30,000+ denominations, either.

C: Holy as mystical body

SrSusan (guest): And focus on the saints- and their writings and esp letters they wrote

K (guest): But it is through the struggles that the Church gives us more direction.

C: Didn’t St. FdS deal w/Calvinists?

Al: i guess i was especially thrown off by their actual hatred of Catholics

Sr. Mary Roberta: Keep Christ in the center – kneeling before Him in the Tabernacle.

C: His writings=helpful

Jan 19 2014, 8:08 PM

Am: It seems like with the history of the church, when we were under attack, along came martyrs, unity and many saints. When things became too easy, schisms came, maybe it’s just my poor analysis of history

Al: good Am!

SrSusan (guest): Yes he did.  read the Controversies by St Francis de Sales as applicable today as they were 400 years ago

Sr. Mary Roberta: We’re reading Andre’ Ravier’s bio of SFdS – good way to be inspired. What opposition he had in the Chablais!

K (guest): Yes, I get leery when things are going too well.

Jan 19 2014, 8:09 PM

Am: Persecution inspires martyrs and saints

C: Wow Amyou are brave!

Am: a little nutty

Sr. Mary Roberta: Right, like a knife’s edge being sharpened on a stone

C: Blood of martyrs seeds of faith

Sr. Mary Roberta: So true!

Am: Like after Constantine came along, then the schisms, but then came the councils, it’s like up and down in the Church

K (guest): I have been interested lately in the history of France, their struggles (revolutions) and the connection to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Sr. Mary Roberta: There have also been heresies that the councils then had to deal with.

C Fr Connor has good series on heresy

Ewtn

Alt: I know I have had face to face talks about annulments, birth control, the Pope And Mary but people hidden by a computer are sooooo hateful

SrSusan (guest): His Heart’s Love is the answer to all revolutions and disturbance

Al: thank you all for listening

C: Sister Susan=so right

Jan 19 2014, 8:13 PM

Al: true

C: Perfect Love

Sr. Mary Roberta: and inspired by His Heart’s love, we love, we’re gentle, like SFdS

Jan 19 2014, 8:14 PM

Ki(guest): The Hispanic people have two primary devotions, Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Al: can we be gentle when people attack us?

Am: We must be gentle or they get us. Isn’t his feast day soon?

Al: I will read it

Jan 19 2014, 8:15 PM

Sr. Mary Roberta: SFdS managed to re-convert thousands to the Church with his gentleness!

SrSusan (guest): Jan 24

Al: holy cow!

Jan 19 2014, 8:16 PM

Sr. Mary Roberta: Yes, this Friday

K(guest): We should do our best to speak the truth with love. It very hard sometimes.

C: Wow! Didn’t know that

Al: I guess the most important thing is to model our faith 18 PM

Am: Wasn’t st. Catherine of Sienna a bit spirited?

K (guest): God uses all of our personalities if we let Him.

Alt: I believe so

I really need to read that

Am: Beautiful and so right

Sr. Mary Roberta: His directees were always wondering how to resist attack on their faith, so he wrote them letters to encourage them.

K (guest): “….Walk very simply with the Cross of the Lord and be at peace with yourself.” SFdS quote in today’s church bulletin

Al: nice

C: Oh wow – nice touch

Jan 19 2014, 8:22 PM

Al: Well Sister it is always good to know other have been under attack too

Sr. Mary Roberta: Yes, it’s all about deep trust in Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross for love of each of us. :24 PM

Al: and the deep trust is from the sacraments and prayer?

Sr. Mary Roberta: His is a love that it takes a lifetime to try to fathom, I think.

8:24 PM

C: Personal relationship too

K (guest): If we could just have the love of Christ for those who attack … 8:25 PM

C: Yes; love enemies,

Pray 4 persecutors

Sr. Mary Roberta: A priest told me to pray for help from the guardian angel of each person attacking me.

Ca: No kidding? PM

Sr. Mary Roberta: Those guardian angels can accomplish lots!

Sr. Mary Roberta: That was new to me as a convert from Presbyterianism.

Jan 19 2014, 8:26 PM

Ca: Wow; I’ll try it sometime

K (guest): What a great thing to do. I must ask my guardian angel to help me to remember to do that.

Am: Anyone going to the March on Washington?

Ki(guest): I am not, but I know some students who are.

Sr. Mary Roberta: and we’re hosting Sisters of Life from NYC

SrSusan (guest): Stop by to see Sr M Roberta!

Am: Wonderful, Sister! that’s beautiful

Jan 19 2014, 8:29 PM

Sr. Mary Roberta: Yes, absolutely!

Rl (guest): I believe my archbishop will be there (the march I mean)

K(guest): Someday we will see great fruit from these marches.

Am oh, you are in DC! I have to find the address

Sr. Mary Roberta: There’s already fruit – with all the young people enthusiastically taking up the cause

Ca: Hope so; victory for life!

Sr. Mary Roberta: amid the thousands and thousands, which the media never talks about! PM

Am: I think it’s one of the largest gatherings, and the media ignores it

Ca: Seriously skewed press right ?

Al: thats for sure

Jan 19 2014, 8:34 PM

Am: it is amazing

Jan 19 2014, 8:34 PM

Sr. Mary Roberta: not what they want to see happening1

Ca: I went w/diocesan group 4 yrs ago mob scene ! Amazing

Great turnout

Sr. Mary Roberta: Our girls have started a Pro-Life Club because of the yearly March.

K(guest): Great idea.

Am: Really! How wonderful!

SrSusan (guest): read this: http://visitationspirit.org/2013/01/pro-life-statement-by-st-francis-de-sales/

8:37 PM

SrSusan (guest): also this http://visitationspirit.org/2013/01/gospel-of-life-the-visitation/

Gospel of Life: The Visitation | Visitation Spirit

SrSusan (guest): Good night and safe travels and blessings!