by Sister Susan Marie | Aug 19, 2019 | Discernment Sundays - Chat Room, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
What is the distinction between virtue and divine virtue? Is Saint Francis saying there is no merit in the virtues of a pagan? Related to that, if a virtuous pagan dies without knowing Christ, will his virtue have any effect on his salvation? If virtues are not...
by Sister Susan Marie | Aug 12, 2019 | Discernment Sundays - Chat Room, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal
Saint Francis makes it clear that the non-Christian is capable of good works. What does he say about how this does or does not influence one’s salvation. Is Saint Francis saying that there is good that can come from the sinner? Saint Francis seems to make it...
by Sister Susan Marie | Aug 5, 2019 | Discernment Sundays - Chat Room, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
What does it mean to love God above ourselves? Wouldn’t a lack of love for ourselves be a form of not loving God? Saint Francis says that love aims at union. What exactly is union? How can we describe it? How might loving God above all be the path to loving...
by Sister Susan Marie | Jul 29, 2019 | Discernment Sundays - Chat Room, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
Saint Francis makes an interesting point here. What good is martyrdom (dying for God) if one does not live for God?2. Do you think it is possible for someone to become a martyr who was not already living a life for God? Or in Saint Francis’ words: “How can...
by Sister Susan Marie | Jul 24, 2019 | Discernment Sundays - Chat Room, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
Is Saint Francis saying that loves that are lesser than the love of God are bad? Does the love of created things necessarily entail disobedience to the divine majesty? What does it mean to put the love of God first? How can we discover what is the chief love of the...
by Sister Susan Marie | Jul 15, 2019 | Discernment Sundays - Chat Room
The English language lacks the nuance of vocabulary in discussing the different types of love. Why is distinguishing between types of love important? Connected to that: When someone says, “I love pizza” or “I love wine,” where does this fit on...