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 18th(page 49)

      Our Savior has instituted the most august sacrament of the Eucharist, which really contains His flesh and blood, so that whoever eats of it shall live forever. Therefore, whoever turns to it frequently and devoutly builds up his soul’s health in such a way that it is almost impossible for him to be poisoned by evil infection of any kind. We cannot be nourished by this flesh of life and still suffer death within us. Just as the first man and woman dwelling in the earthly paradise might have avoided bodily death by the power of that living fruit which God had planted in it, so also can we avoid spiritual death by virtue of this sacrament of life. Tender fruits such as cherries, apricots and strawberries are subject to decay, yet they are easily preserved for a whole year with sugar or honey. Is there any wonder then, that our heart, no matter how frail and weak, is preserved from the corruption of sin when sweetened by the incorruptibles flesh and blood of the Son of God?

(INT. Part II, Ch. 20; O. III, p. 116)

       On February 18th, 1606, Francis de Sales was preaching the Lenten sermons at Grenoble, and although fully occupied with preaching and hearing confessions, at the urgent request of the bishop of Grenoble he conferred Sacred Orders on ninety-five clerics from various provinces. He prepared them himself and almost all of them made a general confession to him. When President Favre remarked that he was taking on too much and could have sent them to other confessors, the saint gently answered, “Ah, dear brother, if I am going to shear these sheep, it is not right that I should also be the one to give them a prior washing?”

(A.S. II, p. 445)

 

If you love God, speak about Him as often as possible.