2. A Sense of Proportion

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Dear Father Francis,

Thank you for answering my letter; your advice was a great help. I've been trying to begin each day in a peaceful frame of mind, as you suggested. It does make a great difference: I feel better for it already. But although I try hard, I still make a lot of mistakes. I hope you will continue to help me.

                                                      Your sincerely

M de la Flechere


Dear Mrs de la Flechere,

I'm delighted to see from your letter that our lord has given you a little taste of that peace of soul. With the help of his grace we must try to preserve it amid the pressure of the many activities demanded by our state in life.

I have high hopes for you. I've gained the impression that you have deeply rooted resolve to serve God, and it makes me confident that you will be faithful to your spiritual exercises.

Don't be surprised at your many failures; they come from human frailty. Deeply regret the fact that you have offended God but cultivate that cheerful humility which is perfectly willing to feel and accept the weakness of human nature.

As often as you can throughout the day make sure that you don't become too deeply engrossed in what you're doing and so lose your sense of proportion; make sure, too, that you have one hand firmly in the grasp of our Blessed Lord.

If you find that you are slipping, calm yourself; try to regain your peace of soul. Imagine that you are quietly working with one hand, while holding on to our Lord with the other, as our Blessed Lady must so often have done during His childhood. How recollected she must have been.

When you are at peace inside, increase your efforts to meet things calmly and gently. In this way you'll train yourself to become serene and self-possessed.

Don't stop to argue with the little temptation you may meet. Simply turn to Jesus crucified as though you were about to imprint a loving kiss upon his sacred feet or side.

With great goodwill I devote myself to spiritual service. For the future your soul will be as dear to me as my own. May our Lord be ever the Master of our hearts, as I am in him.

Your Servant,

FRANCIS DE SALES

Community prayer

Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. (Lk 1: 46-55) Magnificat anima mea Dominum; Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo, Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum. Fecit potentiam brachio suo; Dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles. Esurientes implevit bonis, et divites dimisit inanes. Sucepit Israel, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae, Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semeni ejus in saecula.

Thank you! 15 people prayed

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6

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