St. Alphonsus De Liguori On St. Francis De Sales

[Chiara Francesco]

When one Doctor of the Church talks about another, you know it’s
going to be good (and the source for this is the great new TLM magazine Laudamus Te):

Great was the faith of St. Francis de Sales. Such was his delight
when he thought of the beauty and excellence of Faith, that he was heard
to exclaim, “Oh my God, the beauty of our holy Faith appears to be so
delightful that I could die for love for it, and it seems to me that I
ought to enclose this precious gift which God has bestowed upon me, in a
heart full of the sweetest perfumes of devotion.” Hence he was
never satisfied with giving God thanks for having blessed him with the
favor of being born a child of the True Church: “O bountiful
God,” said he, “great inded are the favors by which Thou hast bound me
to Thee’ but how shall I ever sufficiently thank Thee for having
enlightened me with the true Faith?” And he declared that, although he
constantly had so much to do with heretics, he had never once doubted in
the least of the truth of his Faith. They who love God never
doubt in matters of Faith,: it is only those who do not live according
to the dictates of their Faith who doubt of its Truths. [I
think this is very true. And I have read a great many Saints who
commented on the converse of this: Liguori himself, Aquinas, and Jerome,
all stated that public heresy is almost always driven by some sin, some
lust or greed or pride that separates one from Grace - at least It's
fulness - and leads to souls developing a loathing for the Truth Christ
has revealed through His Church. Thus, they apostasize in order to
rationalize or justify, in their minds, their private (or even public)
sin]

Great also was the Hope of St. Francis. He was always firmly
convinced that God continually watches over our welfare, and hence he
was always calm and intrepid in the midst of the greatest dangers. In
the very dangers which threatened his designs for the glory of God, he
never lost confidence. And this he always endeavored to instill into
others. On one occasion he is related to have said to a timid soul: “Do
you desire to belong entirely to God? Why, then, do you fear on account
of your weakness? Do you hope in God? And shall he who hopes in God be
ever confounded? Be not afraid of your fears.” He who loves God much, confides much in Him. Love always cuts off fear.

Holy Saint, since thou art now in Heaven loving Jesus face to Face,
obtain for me the Grace to love Him, as thou didst love Him in thy
lifetime.

(above from the blog, http://veneremurcernui.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/st-alphonsus-de-liguori-on-st-francis-de-sales/)

 

 

 

 

 

[To Jesus Through Mary]

Sooo beautiful!!  :love:  Two of my favorite saints!! Thank you for sharing that.