Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales - February

[Hildegard of Bingen]

Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales

Teachings and Examples from the Life of the Saint by Salesiana Publishers

February 13th (page 44)

Pearls conceived and nourished by wind or thunder claps are mere crust, devoid of substance. So also when virtues and fine qualities are conceived and nurtured by pride and vanity, they are without substance or solidity, having merely the appearance of good. Honors, dignities and rank are like saffron, which thrives best and grows most plentifully when trodden under foot.

(INT. Part III, Ch. 4; O. III, p. 141)

In 1619, Francis de Sales preached at Saint Andrew’s of the Arts in Paris, where he had also preached during the previous Advent. Here, with the help of divine grace, Governor de La Fere was converted. The Huguenot minister Dumoulin had refused to enter into a debate with Francis, as the illustrious convert had desired. It was this that persuaded de La Fere of the ignorance and bad faith of the minister, who did not dare to defend his doctrine or to enter into a contest as his opponent had suggested.

(A.S. II, p. 336)


I am not very interested in becoming wise if I am not becoming holy at the same time.

Make an effort to have great liberty of spirit, so that even when you are disturbed
at our practices of piety you may accept this with good grace. Then you will not
be prone to complain or put on a long face.