Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Intention: That we all will come to share a deep and unconditional respect for the sanctity and dignity of life in all of its expressions.
Today’s Gospel | Mark 3:7-12
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.
From the Meditation on Saint Francis de Sales | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
This gentleness and tenderness for his neighbor made it possible for Saint Francis to convert so many souls to God. It has been estimated that as many as seventy-two thousand heretics were won back by him from their errors. This virtue won the hearts of all those with whom he dealt, and the affection they felt for him was a means he used to bring them to God. One apostate even confessed that it was the saint’s gentleness and patience that made him come back to the bosom of the Church.
Do you have these sentiments of charity and tenderness toward the poor children whom you have to educate? Do you take advantage of their affection for you to lead them to God? If you have for them the firmness of a father to restrain and to withdraw them from misbehavior, you must also have for them the tenderness of a mother to draw them to you and to do for them all the good that depends on you.
Prayer
Eternal Father, so many things are possible through you if we just take the time to come to you. Help us to see that our days are filled with amazing potential, and that we have the ability to bring something unique and good into this world. As we make our way through life, may we always be ambassadors of your presence and builders of your Kingdom. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.