De Sales Resources and Ministries Provides these Thoughts from Our Salesian Saints!
DeSales Resources & Ministries www.desalesresource.org 1-800-782-2270
Thoughts to Pray with from St. John Bosco
Let us worship God in all things, in consolation as well as in affliction, and let us be certain that He is a good Father who does not permit crosses to be heavier than we can bear.
God demands more patience in your relations with others, particularly with members of your household, greater confidence in His goodness, more serenity of spirit. Be at peace!
O blessed Cross (I’m carrying), although you are somewhat troublesome right now, it won’t be long before you will bring me a crown of roses in eternity.
Say a kind word whenever possible, particularly when comforting the afflicted, or when helping them overcome some difficulty, or when doing something for them – whether in health or in sickness.
Love one another; comfort one another; correct one another; never give way to envy or rancor against one another. Rather, let the benefit of one be the benefit of all, let the sufferings and trials of one be shared by all, and let everyone try to heal, or at least alleviate, the suffering of another.
Taken from The Spiritual Writings of Saint John Bosco (Ed. Joseph Aubry).
New Rochelle, NY: Salesiana Publishers, 2006
Quotes taken from Retreats on the Run, DeSales Spirituality Services.
A CELEBRATION OF SALESIAN SAINTS in the month of January
JANUARY 10
Feast Day
St. Leonie Aviat, OSFS (1844-1914)
co-founded the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales with Blessed Louis Brisson, OSFS. Her congregation provided for the needs of young women working in France during the Industrial Revolution.
JANUARY 24
Feast Day
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
was a priest, missionary, preacher catechist, bishop and diplomat best-known for his practical, down-to-earth approach to living the Gospel. With St. Jane de Chantal, he founded the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary. The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales take him as their primary inspiration.
JANUARY 31
Feast Day
St. John Bosco (1815-1888)
known as Don Bosco, was a priest of Turin, educator and writer. He dedicated his life to the betterment and education of street children and other disadvantaged youth. A follower of the spirituality and philosophy of St. Francis de Sales, Bosco dedicated his founding of the Salesians of Don Bosco to DeSales.
Thoughts to Pray with from St. Leonie Aviat
“Become more and more a soul who is simple and confident in our good Savior. Confide everything to Him; bring everything to Him, and He will give you all that is necessary.”
“Let God be your Master and feel free to do with you what He wishes.”
“My God, I accept, I love, I desire the persons and things just as you arrange them for me.”
“Let us be prudent and know how to wait for the moment of God; we must not go ahead of it.”
“Trials are painful, but when they are well accepted, they often produce unexpected, little hoped for fruits.”
“Strive to practice patience and charity so that your relationships may be happy and good. Pass many things between God and you; that is the means of suppressing your first impulse and acquiring much self control.”
“Look at each neighbor, the smallest, the most wretched, as Our Lord Himself looks at him, with love and compassion. Win them over, love them, bear with them, pray for them, especially for those who are less lovable.”
“Take delight in the present moment and always find your happiness where God places you and in doing what the moment asks of you.”
Thoughts to Pray with from St. Francis de Sales
Is it possible that I have been loved, and loved so tenderly, by my Savior? That he thought of me personally in all these little events by which he has drawn me to himself? This is extremely kind; this loving heart of my God thought of me, loved me, and obtained for me a thousand means of salvation. This he did as though there was no other soul in the world he could think of. – (Introduction to the Devout Life 5.13)
See, this divine lover is at the gate. He does not merely knock, but he remains there knocking. He calls to the soul, “Come, arise, make haste, my love.” and “puts his hand into the lock” to try and open it. – (Treatise on the Love of God 2.8)
Consider the eternal love which God has for you. Already, before our Lord Jesus Christ as man suffered for you on the Cross, his divine Majesty thought of you in his sovereign goodness and loved you infinitely. That is why he has prepared for you the graces and favors he has bestowed on you. – (Introduction to the Devout Life 5.14)
This miserable life is only a progressive journey to the happy life to come. Therefore let us not be angry at all with one another on the way. Let us walk in the company of our (family) and companions, gently, peacefully and kindly. Do not accept any pretext whatever to open the door of your heart to anger. – (Introduction to the Devout Life 3.8)
That we may live in your eternal love, O Savior of our souls, we eternally sing, “Live, Jesus! Jesus, I love. Jesus whom I love, Jesus who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.”
– (Treatise on the Love of God 12.13)