| Be Quite Little, Always |
This week we read a letter from St. Francis de Sales to the Baronne de Chantal, written from Annecy on 20 January 1607.To prepare for our chat on Sunday, please read the letter, which is reproduced below, and review the questions at the end. Click for Living Jesus Chatroom  St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a bastion of littleness (Public Domain)God who sees my heart knows that it is full of fervent wishes for your spiritual advancement, my dear daughter. I really am like those fathers who are never satisfied and can never say enough to their children to make them nobler and greater. But what am I to say to help you to be great, my dear daughter? Be quite little, always, and make yourself smaller in your own eyes every day. Dear God, how very great is the greatness of this littleness! It is the real greatness of widows, but even more of bishops. Please ask for it continually on my behalf, for I need it so much.May we be forever attached to the cross and may a hundred thousand arrows pierce us, provided that our heart has first been pierced by the burning shaft of the love of God. May this arrow make us die that holy death which is worth more than a thousand lives. I shall go and beg this of the Archer who bears the quiver, and by the intercession of St. Sebastian whose feast day we celebrate today. Open your heart wide, my dear daughter, and as long as the love of God is your desire, and your aim is his glory, live with joy and courage. How ardently I long for the Saviour’s heart to be king of all our hearts!I cannot write any more, and I am he whom God wanted to give to you in the way that only he knows. To him be eternal honour and glory. Amen. Francis, Bishop of Geneva. Reflections:What can we do to help children be “great”?What is the importance of our own spiritual growth in this pursuit?What does it mean to become little? And why is it great?If one is in a position of authority, such as that of a parent or work supervisor, how can we get cooperation and yet be “little” at the same time?St. Francis instructs us to be attached to the cross. Should we be pursuing our crosses or embracing them? And what is the distinction?While we should definitely pray for the grace to endure and accept martyrdom, why might it be wrong to pray/hope for it happen to us? Sign up for our Living Jesus Chat Room:Come to our Living Jesus Chat Room, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern Time U.S. this Sunday . |