Feast Day Mass
Sam Fielding
Salesianum School 2026

Sam Fielding (Photo credit: Logan Richter '29)

Good morning everyone, My name is Sam Fielding, and I’m very grateful to be able to share this reflection with all of you. Today, we celebrate a man who masterfully embodied Jesus Christ over the course of his holy life. Amid our academic studies, athletic commitments, and performing arts endeavors, Saint Francis de Sales accompanies us daily, and his incomparable legacy permeates this school’s culture. As Salesians, we constantly see the words “live Jesus” and perceive them to be one of the school’s defining philosophies. Phraseologically, this saying is linguistically simple but thematically profound. Francis de Sales calls for an interior transformation and urges us to be living manifestations of Christ’s love.

I found this morning’s Gospel to be particularly impactful and applicable to my life. In the reading, Jesus offers an open invitation for struggling souls, promising to provide them with revitalizing peace and spiritual rejuvenation. As an inherent part of the human experience, we will all endure low points—whether intense suffering, burdensome anxiety, or an enigmatic sense that we have lost our way. From the perspective of myself and of the rest of the senior class, we are faced with the substantial question of where we will direct our lives in the coming years. This includes critical decisions such as choice of school, field of study, and, more specifically, how we will make a meaningful impact in such a competitive world.

However, in the midst of all this potential stress and uncertainty about the future, Jesus offers three powerful words that Saint Francis de Sales specifically honed in on: “learn from me.” These words indicate that liberation from stress and heavy burdens necessitates the understanding of Christ’s humility and gentleness. In other words, the ability to be the best version of ourselves and obtain genuine peace is found in a relationship with God—not exclusively through wayward self-effort. The true value of this Gospel message is not that it contains the secret to an easy life but rather that it instructs us to cast aside our difficulties and seek renewal through the Lord’s gentle presence.

Most importantly, this Gospel calls us to live Jesus, which Francis de Sales fulfilled so extraordinarily well. From my point of view, Jesus’ words have offered me relief because I now recognize every sleepless night of studying, arduous exam, and exhausting day at school as opportunities for spiritual growth by learning from Him. Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s problems; it only takes away today’s peace. The truth is, peace is not the absence of trouble—it is the presence of God in our hearts.

The topic of living Jesus is also highly relevant to my senior service internship at the nursing home, Little Sisters of the Poor. While this service involved the completion of physical tasks such as removing Christmas decorations or tidying the living environment, I would argue that the social connections my group members and I established with the residents were equally valuable in and of themselves. Many of the residents were nuns, who enjoyed recounting to us the details of their vocation. My group members and I witnessed their steadfast dedication to prayer and unwavering commitment to serving the Lord, much in the same way Saint Francis de Sales demonstrated. Thus, this service was not about younger, more agile high schoolers stooping down to help the elderly. Rather, it was a mutually beneficial experience between us and the residents, who were a living example of the light of Christ and illustrated how virtues of service, faithfulness, and devotion to prayer harmoniously coexist within oneself.

This concept of Christ-like virtues is touched upon in St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians. He uses a wardrobe metaphor, encouraging us to “put on” characteristics such as humility, compassion, and patience. In doing so, he suggests that these virtues are not necessarily natural or automatic—they are intentional decisions within our control. However, Paul sets aside one virtue from the rest, deeming it “the bond of perfection”. This virtue is love, which holds all the other attributes together such that they do not fall apart or become merely performative. As a track athlete, the values of discipline and consistency are daily choices I must make. Nonetheless, they will never be as influential if they are not grounded in love and brotherhood for my teammates, my coaches, and, above all, for glorifying God. Francis de Sales encapsulated the essence of this idea by saying, “No matter how much it has done for your mind, your education is only successful if it has opened your heart.”

I will leave you all with a quote from the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, who famously said, “If you want to be the best, you have to do things other people aren’t willing to do.” In a world where many settle into complacency and comfort, this quote begs the question: how willing are we as a brotherhood to go beyond complacency and strive for greatness by following in the footsteps of our patron? How willing are we, united in the love of Christ, to apply ourselves with unparalleled dedication in the classroom, on the field, or on the stage, never for a moment thinking we have achieved our goal? And most importantly, how willing are we to live Jesus? Saint Francis de Sales never boasted of the material riches prioritized by this world because the true treasure of this life is all of you.

Thank you, live Jesus!

Christ-Like Virtues

Brotherhood