Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

7th Sunday of Easter (June 1, 2003)

Readings Acts 1: 15-17, 20 a, 20c-26 Ps 103: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20 1 Jn 4: 11-16 Jn 17: 11b-19

Suggested Emphasis

"I consecrate myself for their sakes now, that they may be consecrated in truth."

Salesian Perspective

For the past six weeks we have been observing the great Sunday of Easter, which lasts 50 days, culminating in the feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and our Blessed Mother and upon us, in our present day.

Christ is praying to his Father in the Gospel narrative for this 7th Sunday of Easter (John 17: 16-19) that we may remain one. He prays that God may protect us and guard us from the evil one: “Consecrate them…I consecrate myself for their sakes now, that they may be consecrated in truth.”

The scene we go back to in our minds is the Last Supper. We are all in the upper room. Jesus wants us to experience the joy of being one body, upholding one another in love whatever the circumstances.

Jesus prays that his disciples will see through the world’s illusions. By arming themselves with God’s word, they will outwit the evil one who seeks to separate them from the Father’s protection. Our primary responsibility as Christians is to share the love of God that is within us. To share this love, we must see beyond the ways of the world and remain faithful to God’s plan and ways.

What we Christians need in our spiritual life is what St. Francis de Sales reduced to two words in a motto he chose for himself as a youth: NON EXCIDET. They are words of determination. “I will not fall away from my original purpose”…would be a fuller translation, or “I will not fall down on the job.” “I will not lose courage.” Francis was faithful to his chosen motto. He stuck to his books and to the practice of virtue. As a result he became very learned and very close to God or “sanctified”…"made holy” as a result of his industry and pertinacity (his “stick-to-it” quality).

The entire secret of his sanctity escaped from his great heart when he said: “If I knew that there was a single fiber of my heart that was not completely saturated with the love of God, I would immediately pluck it out.” St. Francis de Sales knew well what a person needs most in life, i.e. firmness of character.

“May we who share in the body and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit” (Eucharistic Prayer II).

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is Executive Director of the
De Sales Spirituality Center in Washington, DC