Getting to know Father.

About St. Francis of Sales from the book "Sage and Saint"

Let those who see in him only a gentle pastor watching over tender sheep and lambs in the midst of meadow flowers accompany him in his missionary combat. They will discover in him the warrior about whom Saint Paul tells us, who "has put on the armor of faith and of love; and for a helmet, hope of salvation"

This has been my experience while reading this book. I thought I knew my Father De Sales, but it turns out he is deeper, more mystical and corageous than I ever thought. I feel a little intimidated to have such a spiritual director. What will God ask of me? whatever it is Lord! Thy Will be done!

St. Francis' Crisis

I love saints because they are real human beings. They experienced the same joys and pains we do, struggled with the same things, some of them are recovering addicts(Venerable Matt Talbot), others violent men (St. Paul), some of them became whole after emotional (and some of them even mental!) breakdowns (St. Albert), other's faced many other kind of crisis in their families(St. Margaret Mary) or in their spiritual life (St. Therese). They are human, and show us that being human and submerged in all our brokenness does not mean we cannot rise and become holy.

St. Francis of Sales is no different, and I love him so because of it.

When he was young he went to the College de Clermont in Paris where he was engulfed in a personal crisis. After attending a theological discussions about predestination he became increasingly oppressed with the thought that he was damned to hell. For a long time he lived in horrible and terrifying fear. In December 1586 his despair was so great that he was physically ill and even bed ridden for a time. In January 1587 he visited the Church Saint-Etienne des Gres with great difficulty. There in the middle of his despair he made an act of abandonment to God's will and devoutly recited the Memorae. At that instant Our Lord through the intercession of Our Lady lifted that heavy yoke from the saint's shoulders. Francis found himself free, rejoicing in the knowledge that Our Lord is a Loving God. There and then he made a vow of celibacy in order to dedicate his life to God.
If you want to read more about his crisis and its meaning there's an article on the Salesian Center written by (I think) a visitation nun. You can read it here.
Obviously the amazing thing is not that he had a crisis... the wonderful thing is that God raised Him up, just as He can raise us up from any kind of crisis. God is in our side, we need no to be ashamed of our brokenness. He has used broken vessels before and keeps doing it.

If you are suffering through some sort of crisis, and even if you are not, join me in this prayer please. Let us be confident in the knowledge that Our Lord loves us and so does Our Lady and all the saints.

Remember Oh most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided, inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee Oh Virgin of Virgins! My Mother! to thee do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful, Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in thy mercy hear and answer me!"