Salesian spirituality and Gaudete et Exsultate

Note: With the release of Pope Francis’ new apostolic exhortation, we will take a break from our Treatise on the Love of God to a reflection on this new document.

On March 19, Pope Francis released his third apostolic exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate, a teaching for all People of God to aid us in our path to holiness, which he defines—from the writings of Pope Benedict XVI—as “nothing other than charity lived to the full.”

Holiness can seem to be a daunting task, but charity can feel a bit more attainable.

St. Francis de Sales dedicated his life to helping his parishioners grow in holiness, and when the Pope  declared him a doctor of the church, the 17th century bishop was given the title Doctor of Love to honor his rapt attention on charity. Over the next five weeks, we will present reflections on the intersections between Salesian spirituality and the five chapters of Gaudete et Exsultate.

The Call to Holiness

I like to contemplate the holiness present in the patience of God’s people: in those parents who raise their children with immense love, in those men and women who work hard to support their families, in the sick, in elderly religious who never lose their smile. In their daily perseverance I see the holiness of the Church militant. Very often it is a holiness found in our next-door neighbors, those who, living in our midst, reflect God’s presence. We might call them “the middle class of holiness (no. 7).”

The pope’s use of the expression of middle class of holiness is not intended to suggest mediocrity, but accessibility. He goes on to provide another basic example of holiness:

This holiness to which the Lord calls you will grow through small gestures. Here is an example: a woman goes shopping, she meets a neighbour and they begin to speak, and the gossip starts. But she says in her heart: “No, I will not speak badly of anyone.” This is a step forward in holiness. Later, at home, one of her children wants to talk to her about his hopes and dreams, and even though she is tired, she sits down and listens with patience and love. That is another sacrifice that brings holiness. Later she experiences some anxiety, but recalling the love of the Virgin Mary, she takes her rosary and prays with faith. Yet another path of holiness. Later still, she goes out onto the street, encounters a poor person and stops to say a kind word to him. One more step (no. 16).

This inclusion of such practical instances of holiness mirrors well the writings of DeSales, whose Introduction to the Devout Life was essentially a manual for lay people to design for themselves, from their own state in life, how to be most charitable, most holy. He is famous for the maxim: Be who you are and be that well. Pope Francis seems to paraphrase DeSales in Gaudete et Exsultate:

The one place where Pope Francis references DeSales’, from his Treatise on the Love of God, concerns completing the ordinary tasks of our days with extraordinary grace in the present moment. Each moment, no matter how seemingly weighty or insignificant, contains opportunities for goodness. The pope’s charge is basic and simple, quite like the water that brought us into the life of Christ through baptism. May we live Jesus with a simplicity and charity that lifts us to a middle class of discipleship to grow together in holiness.

This article was written by Fr. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS, Director of Development and Communications for the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Read Gaudete et Exsultate here.