A sad saint is a sad saint”.
In a social context marked by gloom and worries, these words, attributed to Saint Francis de Sales, are welcome; they are in profound harmony with his spirituality. Because the spiritual experience is a happy one encounter with the Lord, it cannot turn the believer into himself. The love of God, because he is infinite, expands our heart: he becomes a source of peace and joy. Not because the Christian life would protect from fatigue and trials that affect everyone, but because a faith alive is like “the sugar which softens the still green fruit, and makes edible the one which is too sour (…). Joys and sufferings, she receives them almost with an equal heart. It fills the soul of a great peace, which marvels itself” (IDL I.2).
In the Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis de Sales devotes several chapters to temptations and how to fight them. He ends by drawing attention to two temptations: the worry that “is itself a source of other temptations”, and the sadness that accompanies it often : sadness often engenders worry which, in turn, leads to “addition of sadness which is extremely dangerous” (IDL IV.11).
The following lines, taken from the chapter devoted to sadness, paradoxically reveal to us the importance of joy in Salesian spirituality
The enemy uses sadness to assail the good with his temptations. As he strives to make the bad rejoice in their sins, he tries to sadden the good in their good works. He can only cause evil by causing it to be found agreeable; he cannot deflect good than by making him find it unpleasant. The evil one loves sadness and melancholy because he himself is sad and melancholy, and will be so eternally; he would therefore like everyone to be like him. Bad sadness throws the soul into trouble, worry, and irrational fears; she disgusts with prayer, dulls the spirit, or overwhelms it; it disorients the soul; she paralyzes her in her judgments, as in his decisions and his courage. In short, it resembles a hard winter which robs the earth of all its beauty and numbs all animals. It robs the soul of all peace, and numbs his faculties. Who do we want to look like? To the evil spirit who “love sadness and melancholy because that he himself is sad and melancholy” and who “would want everyone to be like him”? or at “God who is our only joy and our only consolation” ?
For Françis de Sales, the answer is obvious: we are created in the image and likeness of God, who is the God of joy. Our God calls us to eternally share his joy in his Kingdom. By living in peace and joy, it is a question of responding to our vocation, of entering into God’s project for each of us.
The basis of joy is the certainty that God loves us and gives us grace. to respond to his love. ” Hold your heart wide before God; always go cheerfully in his presence, because he loves us, he cherishes us” (Letter to Ste Jeanne de Chantal, June 17, 1606).
Beyond the more or less optimistic temperament of each, shaped by his family heritage and the events of his life, there is indeed for the Bishop of Geneva a personal decision to take one or the other path: Don’t let yourself slide down the slope of sadness. Resist him with force!” The joy is not primarily the consequence of happy events; it is also a matter of commitment; she sometimes asks for a effort, the decision not to let ourselves be led by what saddens us. This is why, in his advice, Françis de Sales often associates joy and courage: ” Provided that love of God be your desire, live always joyful and courageous.” (Letter to Ste Jeanne de Chantal, January 20, 1607).
Comment If you were ever affected, Philothée, by this bad sadness, take the remedies : is anyone sad , said Saint James, then he prays (Jas 5.13); prayer is sovereign remedy, because it immerses the spirit in God, God who is our only joy and our only consolation. Rush towards him, implore him; whether aloud or inwardly, say him that you trust him, and that you love him . . . Don’t let yourself slide down the slope of sadness. Resist him with force. And even if this what you are doing at that moment seems to you marked by coldness, cowardice, weariness, above all do not stop doing it. For the enemy, who always waits God is our only joy
It is good to indulge in outdoor activities. May they be more diverse than you can. They will divert the soul from what saddens it. And since sadness often comes from a cold temperament, they will put a little warmth and liveliness in the spirit and will untie the heart (…). Entrust humbly and very simply to your director all that this sadness arouses in you feelings, impressions, imaginations, desires. In these periods of sadness, seek the company of spiritual people, associate with them more than you can. And in the end, place yourself in the hands of God
Who do we want to look like? To the evil spirit who “loves sadness and melancholy because that he himself is sad and melancholy” and who therefore “wants everyone to be like him”? or “God who is our only joy and our only consolation”? For François de Sales, the answer is obvious: we are created in the image and likeness of God, who is the God of joy. Our God calls us to eternally share his joy in his Kingdom. By living in peace and joy, it is a question of responding to our vocation, of entering into God’s project for each from U.S. The basis of joy is the certainty that God loves us and gives us grace. to respond to his love. “Keep your heart wide open before God; always go cheerfully in his presence, because he loves us, he cherishes us” (Letter to Ste Jeanne de Chantal, June 17, 1606).