LENT REFLECTION

with
FRANCIS DE SALES

Courage,
my Sister, my Daughter,
Awaken your Heart during this Holy Lent.
(Francis de Sales to Jane de Chantal, January 20, 1607)
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Introduction

In this Lent 2019, each day presents an expression or a

phrase from the liturgy of the mass, a quote from Saint
Francis de Sales and a few words for reflection,
emphasizing prayer and meditation. In fact, we hope that
each one of us, by means of these reflections, will find in
her life ideas for conversion and will herself make the
resolution to help in this conversion.

It is of the greatest importance, Philothea, that

after your mediation you keep in mind the
deliberate decisions and plans you have made in
order to put them into practice carefully during
that very day. This is the principle fruit of
meditation. Without it, meditation is very often not
only useless but even harmful. In fact, merely to
meditate on virtues and not practice them,
sometimes makes our minds and our emotions
swell with pride. We are convinced that we are in
fact what we have resolved and decided to be.
This may be true without doubt if your deliberate
decisions are earnest and determined. However,
they are not such but rather useless and
dangerous if they are not put into practice.
Therefore, we must try in every way we can to
practice our deliberate decisions, looking out for
opportunities, small or great. (IDL II, 8)

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Ash Wednesday, March 6
Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love;
according to thy abundant mercy blot out my
transgressions. (Ps 5:1-4)

Tell the Lord about your unhappy condition,

acknowledge your unworthiness, ask him for his
help, kiss his picture... (IDL II, 9)

Day of penance, sorrow, confession and prayer, but

especially a day of mercy. Yes, our God is full of
tenderness, slow to anger and full of love. He wants us to
be as white as snow, let us, as joyous penitents, reconcile
and purify ourselves as we approach him.

Thursday, March 7
Which I command you this day, by loving the Lord your
God, by walking in his ways. (Dt 30:16)

Look at the Saints who earnestly request you, and

a million faithful who gently invite you, only
desiring one day to see your heart united to theirs
to praise God forever. They assure you that the
way to heaven is not as difficult as the world
claims it to be. (IDL I, 17)

The Saints and holy souls, living in the hope of someday

being totally united in the love of God, have walked in his
ways. Today, do we sufficiently love our Lord to choose
the true life which leads us to Heaven?

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Friday March 8
A broken and contrite heart,
O God, thou wilt not despise. (Ps 51:17)

Speak severely to your heart for the little courage

it has had till now, turning away so far from the
way to this beautiful home. Why have I strayed so
far from my superior happiness? (IDL I, 16)

You do not send us away... what happiness, my God, to

again take up the pathway to your glorious home.

Show us what drives us away from You, and with courage

and humility we return to You!

Saturday, March 9
... if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy
the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in
the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
(Is 58:10)

Drink as much as you can of the sacred wine of

charity. (IDL III, 28)

Give the best of ourselves to those who are hungry or

sorrowful, but what does this best mean?

Isn’t it the fire of love which burns our hearts when we

approach the Holy Table? Let us ask for the grace to live
this fire and spread it.
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Sunday, March 10

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and
was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness.
(Lk 4:1)

My father, she said, I am yours; I know not what

to will for my cure; it is yours to will and do for
me what seems good to you. (TLG IX, 15)

Leaving the green borders of the Jourdan for the desert, like
Jesus, let us leave behind our “routine” and let us be guided
by the Holy Spirit and accept the will of our Father who
knows what is good for us.

Monday, March 11

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart

be acceptable in thy sight, Oh Lord. (Ps 19: 14-16)

O Theotimus!
What an excellent employment of our will is this,
when it gives up the care of willing and choosing
the effects of God’s good- pleasure in order to
praise and thank this good- pleasure for such
effects. (TLG IX, 14)

We pray that our words be praises from our hearts and that
they lift the sweet whisper of thanksgiving for all the
blessings you give us.

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Tuesday, March 12

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly

Father also will forgive you. (Mt 6:14)

O God, what misery is ours! We can barely

forgive our enemies, and Our Father loves them
so dearly and has been praying hardily for them!
(Sermon, Good Friday, April 17, 1620)

What misery is ours, aren’t we the ones who forgive those

who have hurt us, humiliated us, with difficulty? Our
merciful Lord helps us forgive and come forward in peace
if we only ask it of him.

Wednesday, March 13

... and take not thy holy Spirit from me. (Ps 51:11)

Charity... will free you from these evil moods

which cause you to make distorted judgements.
Charity is afraid of meeting evil. (IDL III, 28)

Without Him, who is Love, Peace, Joy, Strength, Wisdom,

Intelligence, we are really weak and little inclined to do
good.

We count on our own strength and all is distorted. Let us

pray the Veni Creator daily; the Lord will renew us.

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Thursday, March 14

My God, our King, you are the only One; come save me,
because I am alone. I have no other help but you. (Est)

The crucified King calls you by your own name:

Come my beloved one, come, that I may crown
you. (IDL I, 18)

God alone, who has written our names on the palms of his
hands, is our refuge. He needs only our confidence. Today,
in the hope of receiving one day this crown in the “Home
of the Lord”, let us thank him for this acceptance and for
his paternal love.

Friday, March 15

For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is
plenteous redemption. (Ps 130:7)

It suffices me that God is God, that his goodness

is infinite, that his perfection is immense; whether
I die or whether I live matters little to me since my
dear well-beloved lives eternally an all-
triumphant life. (TLG V, 3)

The love of God and the redemption of our sins are as one.
This love is so great that it overflows with pardon. Let us
pray for all those who do not know the infinite goodness of
this love.

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Saturday, March 16
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you. (Mt 5:44)
Be impartial and just in your actions. Put yourself
always in the place of your neighbor, and your
neighbor in your own place, and thus you will
judge him well. Make yourself a seller while
buying and a buyer while selling... we lose
nothing by living generously, nobly, courteously
and with a magnanimous, impartial and
reasonable heart. (IDL III, 36)
It is not one more step toward perfection which Jesus asks
of us: go farther than pardoning, love our enemies.
Let us take, with the help of our Lord, this pathway of
merciful love.

Sunday, March 17
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you
even with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
(Ph 3:18)
But we mortals rather resemble apodes... in truth
we are impotent of ourselves to detach our hearts
from sin, or start ourselves again in flight of
sacred love, which, wretches that we are, we have
perfidiously and voluntarily forsaken. (TLG II, 9)
Let us offer our Holy Eucharist today in consolation to our
Lord for all our offenses, injuries and errors. Let us pray for
the conversion of “all those whose end is destruction”.
(Ph 3:19)
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Monday, March 18
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name.
(Ps. 79:9)

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did

we not prophesy in your name, and cast out
demons in your name, and do many mighty works
in your name? And then will I declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from me you evildoers.
(Mt 7:22-23) Finally, my dear Sisters, you see
that without humility or charity we are nothing.
(Sermon, September 27, 1619)

Do we do everything in God’s name, for his glory, in a

spirit of detachment, without looking for recognition?

Tuesday, March 19,

St Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin Mary
In hope he believed against hope. (Rm 4:18)

Our sufficiency is from God, who did not only

love us before we were, but also to the end we
might be, and might be saints. For which cause he
prevents us with the blessings of his fatherly
sweetness. (TLG II, 9)

Saint Joseph is a model of faith for us. Entrust in him all

fathers so that they will find their true place in their
children’s education.
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Wednesday, March 20
Into thy hand I commit my spirit. (Ps 31:5)

We must try to keep a constant and unchanging

balance of mind in the midst of this great variety
of changes. Though everything turns and changes
about us, we must always remain firm, our eyes
fixed on God. (IDL IV, 13)

Trust everything and wait for everything from God, in total

confidence. In joy or pain, peace or turmoil, gentleness or
violence... live in “Holy Indifference”. For your love, Lord,
I accept all and offer all to you.

Thursday March 21
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in
the Lord. (Jr 17:7)

Saint Pachomius shakes himself loose from

distractions, to the end he may with more
attention and facility gather together and relish
the grace he has received withdrawing himself to
think thereupon. Then he extends his heart and
hands toward heaven, whither the inspiration is
drawing him and beginning to display the wings
of his affections, flying between diffidence of
himself, and confidence in God, he intones in a
humbly amorous air the canticle of his
conversion... (TLG II, 13)

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In silence and contemplation, acknowledge the blessings
received from our Lord, especially that of faith. Then as
thanksgiving, praise Him, sing songs of joy! Let us pray for
the conversion of those who have not yet put their faith in
the Lord.

Friday March 22
... The very stone which the builders rejected has become
the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is
marvelous in our eyes! (Mt 21:42)
Providence, which turns and reduces all to its
service. (TLG II, 3)
Who is this stone rejected by the builders? Do we see
God’s work in our lives, in the world? Lord, open our
minds to your word, open our eyes to see your wonders and
your glory.

Saturday, March 23
Who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with
steadfast love and mercy. (Ps 103:4)
We are all ill; the holy Church is a hospital where
there is a quantity of diverse illnesses, and the
savior is our sovereign Doctor. (Sermon 7,
September, 1619)
In spite of our physical, moral or spiritual sufferings, the
Lord wants us alive, standing and fighting with strength
and confidence... Thus, so we wish, and we will be
crowned with love and tenderness in the Kingdom.
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Entrust Him today with all those who are depressed and no
longer have the will to live.

Sunday, March 24
... And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not,
you can cut it down. (Lk 13:9)

What humility Judas must have shown living in

the company of Our Lord? yet however, look at
his pride at death; not wanting to humiliate
himself or do acts of penitence requiring a great
and good humility, he despairs of ever receiving
pardon (Mt 27:4). Unsupportable arrogance to
not want to demean himself before the great
mercy, from whom we must await all things and
all our happiness. (Sermon, September 27, 1619)

It happens that a part of ourselves is no longer nourished by

the same lifeblood, by good nourishment and grows apart
from the source... Lord, give us discernment and humility
to recognize and renounce all that diverts us from you.

Monday, March 25
Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to
me according to your word. (Lk 1:38)

The Virgin Mary’s heart remained perpetually

inflamed with the holy love which she received of
her Son. (TLG III, 8)

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On this celebration of the Annunciation, let us ask the
Virgin Mary for the grace to live according to the will of
God and let us pray for all future mothers.

Tuesday, March 26
Let my counsel be acceptable to you. (Dn 3:27)
There are virtues that are lowly and virtues that
are honorable. Patience, meekness, simplicity and
even humility are virtues that worldlings consider
as mean and lowly. On the contrary, they hold
prudence, courage and liberality in the highest
esteem. There are also actions of the one and the
same virtue, some of which are despised and the
others honored. To gives alms and to forgive
injuries are both acts of charity. Yet the first is
honored by everyone, while the latter is despised
in the eyes of the world. (Letter to the Baroness of
Chantal, August 6, 1606)
Patience, gentleness, mortification, simplicity, are these not
virtues which make us sacrifice our “me”, our egoism?
Giving alms and forgiving, don’t they require love of God
and our brothers and sisters?

Wednesday, March 27
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem! (A Song of Praise of David)
The heart of God is so abounding in love, his
good is so absolutely infinite, that all men may
possess him without lessening each one’s

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 possession, this infinity of goodness can never be
drained, though it fills all the hearts of the
universe. (TLG X, 14)

How can the entire world not glorify the Lord for his
unending love, for all his creations, for the “wonders” who
we are... Let us pray that all men and women respect and
protect the works of our Creator.

Thursday, March 28
Harden not your hearts... (Ps 95:8)

It cannot be declared, Theotimus, how strongly

the Savior desires to enter into our souls by this
love of sorrowing complacency. Ah! Says he,
Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my
undefiled... (TLG V, 5)

Lord you ask us to open our hearts, hard as rocks, to your

love. Will we know today how to not resist and tell you
“yes, Lord, I want to love you and be your beloved child.”

Friday, March 29
I will love them freely. (Ho 14:4)

Most holy Mother of God, vessel of incomparable

election, Queen of sovereign deletion, thou art the
most lovely, the most loving, and most beloved of
all creatures! The love of the heavenly Father

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 found its good pleasure in thee from all eternity...
(TLG Dedicatory Prayer)

From the cross Jesus gave his Mother to all humanity.

A Mother full of overflowing love for her poor children
whom we are. Let us place all our children, grandchildren
and all the youth of the world under her maternal
protection.

Saturday, March 30

Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love;

according to thy abundant mercy blot out my
transgressions. (Ps 51:1)

Your weakness harms us considerably, because,

say you, it keeps you from being withdrawn and
detached from the senses; and approaching God.
Doubtless this is talking down to you. God offers
you this for his glory and your well-being; he
wants your misery to be the throne of his mercy,
and your weakness, the seat of his almighty
power... No, my Daughter, this weakness does not
prevent you from going inward; but it really keeps
you from being content with yourself. (Letter to
the Baroness de Chantal, August 6, 1606)
God comes looking for us in our weakness, our misery.
He will answer our cries of distress with his merciful love.
Let us not be ashamed to come out of our shells and leave
behind our justifications and judgements and go confess to
a priest.
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Sunday, March 31
I will arise and go to my Father... (Lk 15:18)
My beautiful soul, you ought to say, you can know
and desire God, why should you be occupied with
something less? (IDL V, 10)
At the beginning of this fourth week, aren’t we hearing a
call to advance even more radically towards the Father, to
leave aside distractions, to take more time to pray or study
spiritual texts?

Monday, April 1
And he himself believed, and all his household. (Jn 4:53)

Catholics are Catholic, because without any

choice or election they embrace, with an equal
assurance and without exception, all the faith of
the Church. (TLG V, 10)

Follow the faith of the Church, faithful to our Holy Father,

Pope Francis, working for the unity of Christians and
fraternal love between us. This is to believe in Christ
“head” of the Church (Eph 1:20). And us, members of this
body, let us pray for our priests, bishops and our Pope.

Tuesday, April 2
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. (Ps 46:1)
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 With an absolute detestation of this vanity, run to
the Cross of the Savior. Take his crown of thorns
to surround your heart with it, so that these little
fox cubs (Song 2:5) cannot come near it.
(IDL III, 21)

Alone we cannot fight against temptation. Only God can

give us strength. Let us not hesitate to take refuge at the
foot of the Cross and in confidant love receive in our hearts
the divine thorns of his crown which repel all evil.

Wednesday, April 3

For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have
compassion on his afflicted. (Is 49:13)

Oh, how miserable are we poor children of earth!

For we can scarcely forget an injury even long
after we received it! But the one who shall
‘anticipate’ his neighbor ‘with the blessings of
sweetness’ (Ps 21:4) will be the most perfect
imitator of Our Lord. (Sermon, Good Friday,
April 17, 1620)

Forgiving our enemies requires a particularly painful effort.

Our Lord goes even farther, not only does he pardon them,
he loves and consoles the poor sinners... Today let’s take
the pathway of compassion and love those whom we are
having difficulty forgiving.

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Thursday, April 4
The works which the Father has granted me to accomplish,
these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that
the Father has sent me. (Jn 5:36)

Charity, being an active quality, cannot not

remain inactive for long, or it will die; it is, say
our Ancients, like Rachel, who also possessed it;
Give me children, she said to her friend,
otherwise I will die: and charity rushed into her
heart and she was married to the fruitfulness of
good deeds, otherwise she would die. (TLG)

There is no love without works. Real charitable love

inspires us to serve our brothers and sisters and moves us
into action. Let us be, today, attentive to “holy inspirations”
which the Lord sends us and quite simply act.

Friday April 5
The Lord redeems the lives of his servants; none of those
who take refuge in him will be condemned. (Ps 34:22)

Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul,

except sin...

If we seek refuge in Jesus’ arms and draw near to his heart,

like children, what do we have to fear? Expel worry from
our lives, place all our hope in our Savior who has saved us
by his Cross. Give thanks!
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Saturday, April 6
Others said, “This is the Christ.” (Jn 7:41)

Offer him your heart so that he will make himself

master of all. (IDL V, 8)

So many look for Christ and think he is inaccessible...

However, it is in our heart that he comes begging for our
love. Let us pray that every man of good find in himself
this truth: “This is the Christ!”

Sunday, April 7
That I may know him... (Ph 3:10)

It is impossible to see the Divinity and not love it,

but here below where we do not see it, but only
have a glimpse of it through the clouds of faith, as
in a mirror, our knowledge is not yet so perfect as
not to leave an opening for the surprises of other
objects and apparent goods, which through the
obscurities with the certainty and verity of faith,
steal in unperceived, like little fox cubs, and
demolish our flourishing vineyard.
(TLG IV, 1)

When these little fox cubs, clever and agile, slide doubts,
ambitions and worldly desires into our faith, they weaken it
and finally destroy it. Let us be vigilant and learn to better
know Christ, for example, by practicing the Lectio Devina.
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Monday, April 8
... I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Ps 23:6)

A man is given some liquid of great value to take

home in a bowl of beautiful porcelain. He will
walk carefully, not looking to one side or the
other. He will look sometimes in front, for fear of
tripping over a stone or making a false step.
Sometimes, he will look at his bowl to see that it is
not leaning to one side. After finishing your
meditation, you must behave in the same way.
(IDL II, 8)

The faith which we have received is a precious gift. This

gift becomes more beautiful from meditation to meditation.
And stone by stone it becomes the home of the Lord. Help
us Lord to build our faith on this rock.

Tuesday, April 9
They said to him, “Who are you?” (Jn 8:25)

... making a continual progress in this sweet

searching out of motives, which may perpetually
urge her to a greater complacency in the
incomprehensible goodness which she loves.
(TLG V, 7)

Lord, who are you today for me? A distant God?

A demanding God? A God of goodness and mercy?
Show me your face Lord!

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Wednesday, April 10
All the wonders of the Lord, bless him: to you praise and
glory forever! (Dn 3:56)

When Saint Monica was pregnant with the great

Saint Augustine, she consecrated him several
times to the Christian religion and to the service
of the glory of God. Thus he himself testifies that
he had already tasted “the salt of God in his
mother’s womb”. This is a great lesson for
Christian mothers to offer the fruit of their womb
to the divine Majesty even before they are born.
(IVD III, 38)

Bless the Lord for the love that he has for the unborn.
Let us pray for all children to be born and also for those
who were not welcomed.

Thursday, April 11
Remember the wonderful works that he has done.
(Ps 105:5)

His right hand has exalted me. I shall not die but
live and declare with my heart, my mouth and by
my words, the wonders of his goodness.
(IDL V, 2)

Think about, remember, astounded, all the times when the

Lord has lifted us up, supported, forgiven and loved us.
Will we be able to bear witness of that?
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Friday, April 12
... that you may know and understand that the Father is in
me and I am in the Father. (Jn 10:38)

(Hold in your heart) the maxim of the Blessed

Mother (S.) Teresa: “What is not God is to me
nothing.” (TLG VI, 12)

Jesus came to accomplish his Father’s work. The two are

profoundly united, of the “same nature”. Let us ask the
Holy Spirit for us to understand their intimate love and to
live it.

Saturday, April 13
And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
(Ez 37:23)

O, Lord, does holy Church our mother teach us to

say, “give us the increase of faith, hope and
charity.” ... It is God therefore that gives this
increase, in consideration of the use we make of
his grace, as it is written; For he that hath, that is,
who uses well the favors received, to him shall be
given and he shall abound. (TLG III, 2)

Lent ends on Palm Sunday so that all may join in unity of

prayer with the Church’s offices, the reading of the
“Magnificant”, etc.

(but if you wish to continue)

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 Holy Week
Monday, April 15
Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take
courage... (Ps 27:14)

The angel descends from heaven, and striking the

great Saint Peter, the prisoner, upon the side,
awakens him, saying: Arise quickly! So the
inspiration comes from Heaven like an angel, and
striking upon the poor sinner’s heart, stirs him up
to rise from his iniquity. (TLG II, 9)

Do not give up, do not become discouraged, earnestly wait

for the goodness of the Lord even down here... Let us
encourage, support and be witnesses of faith to the sick,
aged, prisoners, handicapped and lonely.

Tuesday, April 16
Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me?”
(Jn 13:38)

I am sure that your life which comes from your

heart, like the almond tree from its kernel, will
produce all its actions which are its fruits
inscribed and engraved with the same word of
salvation. Just as this gentle Jesus will live in
your heart, he will live also in your conduct and
appear in your eyes, in your mouth, in your
hands... (IDL III, 23)

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By giving ourselves with all our hearts, offering up all our
actions, opening wide the door of our hearts, we will be
useless servants, but through whom God will show himself
to our brothers and sisters. Are we ready for this life of
abandon?

Wednesday, April 17
May all who seek ye rejoice and be glad in thee! (Ps 70:4)

Oh! My dear Theotimus, what pleasure will man’s

heart take in seeing the face of the Divinity, a face
so much desired, yea a face the only desire of our
souls? Our hearts have a thirst which cannot be
quenched by the pleasures of this mortal life,
(TLG III, 10)

Seeking God gives life, puts us on our way. This quest of

God provides a totally supernatural joy, drawn in hope and
confidence in God’s promise: one day we will see his face.
Lord may our thirst for you grow, through the merits of the
holy Cross.

Thursday, April 18,

The Lord’s Supper
Jesus... having loved his own who were in the world, he
loved them to the end. (Jn 13:1)

And she fancies (Peter’s soul) that amid her

failings, her distractions and coldness, Our Lord

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 smites her with this reproach: How canst thou say
that thou lovest me, seeing thy soul is not with
me? (TLD VI, 14)

So that each day our souls remain united with him, Jesus,
out of total love, instituted three great mysteries: the
Eucharist, fraternal charity and the priesthood. Let us go to
our Lord as witnesses of our love by nourishing ourselves
through these sacraments

Good Friday, April 19,

Celebration of our Lord’s Passion and Death

Into thy hand I commit my spirit. (Ps 31:5)

And the sacred Council of Trent divinely

inculcates upon all the children of the holy
Church, that the Grace of God is never wanting to
such as do what they can, invoking the divine
assistance; that God never abandons such as he
has once justified unless they abandon him first.
(TLG IV, 5)

Confidant that his Father will not abandon him, Jesus

commits himself to Him. He accepts, out of obedience, to
lose his life by the ultimate sacrifice, to save the world. The
same for us, if we invoke Jesus’ name to the Father, he will
not abandon us. Give thanks for the Father’s faithfulness
and ask him to pardon our lack of faithfulness.

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Holy Saturday, April 20,
Pascal Vigil
I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously.
(Ex 15:1)
You have made me, O Lord, for yourself, that I
may enjoy forever the immensity of your glory.
When shall I be worthy of this? When shall I bless
you as I ought? (IDL I, 10)
With great emptiness in our hearts on the Holy Saturday,
we are waiting for the fulfillment of the promise. Let us
prepare our songs of joy and exultation, this evening comes
his amazing Glory... bless him with one heart, praise him,
rejoice “Christ is risen!”

Easter Sunday, April 21,

The Resurrection of the Lord
I have seen the Lord. (Jn 20:18)
How good God is! -having got entrance into the
heart, at first causes union with this goodness; but
being entertained for some fairly long time, as a
precious perfume it penetrates every part of the
soul, pours out and dilates itself in our will...
(TLG VII, 1)
Let us contemplate our Lord in his glory, let all our being
be filled, in all our “nooks”, our shadows, let us be
transformed by his love and become “children of light”!
Alleluia!
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