From Saint Francis de Sales to us, the conditions in which education takes place of children and young people have evolved considerably. In families, relations between relatives and children have been profoundly transformed: from birth, the child is subject to all the cautions; the roles in the parental couple are no longer defined in advance; dialogue and the expression of feelings takes up more space.
Knowledge has no common measure with those of the 17th century. A science and a pedagogical know-how have developed. However, despite all these differences, aspects of thought and spirituality Salesians – because they are deeply humanistic and humanizing – can still enlightening educators today.
Saint Francis de Sales never developed global reflection on pedagogy but, throughout his writings, he gives here and there some advice on common sense. Thus he inspired many educators, starting with Saint John Bosco (1815- 1888). The text proposed at the end of August does not deal primarily with education. Saint Francis de Sales speaks of conversion, that is to say of an interior and exterior transformation of the person. Because education – like conversion – touches the deep being of the person, this text also sheds light on the purpose of education. (Introduction to the Devout Life, III.23)
” Naturalists assert that, if one writes a word on a whole almond, that we put it back in its kernel by closing it carefully, and let it be planted like this, every almonds from the tree that will grow will be marked with the same word. As for me, Philothée, I have never approved of the method of those who to reform man begin from the outside: the posture, clothes, haircut… It seems to me on the contrary, that we must begin from within: Convert to me with all your heart (Jl 2, 12), says God; My child, give me your heart (Pr 23:26). The heart is the source of shares; they will be as it is (…). Your life proceeds from your heart like the almond tree from its core (…). Who of the man wins the heart, wins the whole man. But this heart, where we want to start, asks that we instruct him since it is he who will direct our exterior. We must find a real life of faith, but also of discernment and judgement. To do this, I give you briefly some tips. I have learned from experience that the overtired colt stops on the side of the road.
So the young people: when they are exhausted by excessive fasts, they come to seek the foods delicate. There are two times when deer run badly: when they are loaded with fat and when they are too thin.”
Comment “Who wins the heart of man wins man whole “. This statement comes as a general principle that we can also apply to education. Francis de Sales clearly opposes advisors who start by establishing a framework outside, without asking how it touches the heart of man. If the Bishop of Geneva gives the first place in the heart, in the deep dynamism of the person, it is because he sees in him “the seat and the source of love” (cf. TAD I.10): it is in love that our shares; it is in him that the great take root commitments of our life.
Our actions are as is our heart, observes François de Sales. Thereby, the educator is not only concerned with outward behavior, but he pays his attention first on the heart, it calls on the resources interior of the person. For him, there is no question of separating the inside and the outside, as if only our heart mattered, not our actions. There is an interaction between inside and outside.
In his correspondence as in his conversations with the Visitandines, François de Sales regularly emphasizes this link: his advice is very concrete, while at the same time aiming for spiritual depth. To maintain the fire of love in the heart, acts and gestures are necessary. The whole art of the educator is to favor a process of unification of the being, so that heart and deeds are in harmony. This work of interiorization requires “discernment and judgment”. Discernment and judgment on the part of the young person, attentive to what is happening in his heart; but also discernment and judgment on the part of the educator. “This heart, with which we want to begin, asks let him be educated.” So that the young person acquires discernment and judgement, so that he gives the priority to his “heart”, the educator must instruct with accuracy. So that consciousness wakes up and exercises fully, it needs to be accompanied and enlightened. Otherwise, before the freedom of the person, we leave him in a great solitude, unable to find
his path. The educator is not concerned not only of outward behavior, but he pays attention first on the heart, he does call for resources interior of the person. Francois de Sales . The discernment and judgment of the educator consist in particular in seeking a balance and avoid excess. François, who is the man of the right measure, knows “by experience that the colt too tired stops on the side of the road”. If he does not offer anything, the educator does not help the young person to advance ; but conversely, if he is too demanding, he will obtain the opposite of what he wishes: he will discourage the child or young person more than he will encourage and stimulate him to good. ” As a general rule, says Francis in the same chapter, a constant and moderate sobriety is preferable to rigorous abstinence, alternating with great slackening”