God’s vision for His created world was perfect! After we were created, God expected us to get along. If anyone needed help, neighbors would be their helpers..............… 

St. Francis de Sales was a gifted spiritual guide. Beginners on the spiritual journey often thought that “bigger was better.” Long vigils, prolonged fasting, harsh disciplines and hair-shirts—these are the kinds of spiritual practices that they thought people who aspired to holiness ought to practice.............…

“Leafy falls fell all around my open-eyed awe of death.”

One wonders what the writer has in mind with that final line of a poem on Autumn. Here are my thoughts about it............…

A few days ago we celebrated the feast of the Holy Cross. We venerate the Cross of Christ because it was the means of his redemptive death on our behalf. It is a “holy” Cross, therefore, because of its role in our salvation...........… 

“Never miss an opportunity to do good. If you neglect an opportunity for doing good in the hope that something better will turn up, you will often lose the first and fail to find the second.”..........… 

On a recent reflection on "Desire and Duty," we saw the importance of doing or embracing God’s will for us at each passing present moment of daily life. In that context we quoted Francis de Sales, "At hundreds of times during the day let us join our life to God’s love"..........…

We have all been called to be disciples of Christ. Our call to discipleship includes: the character of those who are called to be disciples; the need for discernment and decision in following Jesus;.........… 

Early in her friendship with Francis de Sales, Jane de Chantal received some sound advice from Francis on how to attain to Christian holiness while living the busy life of a recent widow and mother of four young children.........…

This week the Church celebrates the beautiful feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven, body and soul. St. Francis de Sales has some powerful reflections on this feast........…   

I write this reflection during a pause in the retreat schedule for the three postulants who became Oblate novices on Saturday, August 4, 2018. It is such a privilege to share these days of retreat with three fine young men.......…