by Sister Susan Marie | Aug 26, 2019 | Discernment Sundays - Chat Room, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales
Can these virtues of faith, hope, and charity be practiced by Christians only? Often faith is presented as a static thing: either you have faith or you do not. What then does it mean that faith is a virtue (which is very much not a static thing)? Why are these...
by Sister Susan Marie | Aug 23, 2019 | Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal, Visitation History
This year we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the foundation of a Visitation Monastery in Paris, France. The jubilee is highlighted at the Museum of the Visitation in Moulins, France with outstanding exhibits. Here we will share the story of the history of this...
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 | MYSTIC OF THE MONTH, Saintly Visitandines, Salesian Spirituality, St. Jane de Chantal, Visitation Saints
Today, August 12th, is the Feast of the Foundress of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, St. Jane de Chantal, who, with St. Francis de Sales, began the first Visitation Monastery in 1610. We Visitandines honor St. Jane as our Holy Mother. You too can invoke her...
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 8, 2019 | Salesian Spirituality, St. Jane de Chantal, Visitation Saints
In the Introduction to the book, Francis de Sales, Jane de Chantal: Letters of Spiritual Direction, we read: “Jane de Chantal continued with her work of overseeing the large family of religious to whom she was the chief spiritual mother. She wrote ardent letters to...