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ST JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL, SATURDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, AUGUST 12, 2023

Olivia M. Bannan




Gospel

"Nothing will be impossible for you."



REFLECTION


Saints come in many different shapes, professions and backgrounds. Jane de Chantal was married and the mother of six children. When she became a widow she sought spiritual guidance from St Francis de Sales and quickly achieved and received many spiritual graces and virtues. She performed many good works for the poor, the disadvantaged and the sick. We do well to read the stories of saints and see how they did things.


Wisdom from the Lives and Letters of St Francis de Sales and St Jane Frances de Chantal by Louise Perrotta is an excellent 130 page book. It has the letters to and from St Francis de Sales and his closest friend and coworker, St Jane de Chantal, and their advice to their followers. It is a snippet of kindred spirits helping kindred spirits. And as the book begins, it is like a buffet of lavish gourmet foods and culinary delights. Their spiritual advice and writings appeal to the needs of the people they served.


St Jane de Chantal wrote down to earth practical common sense advice. She showed us how to live in this world and yet be rooted in God. She showed us that the natural tendency toward goodness is in all of us. She founded the Order of the Visitation.


In today's Gospel we see the different confidences of faith: there is the father's moving confidence pleading for his son, and then the doubting faith of the crowd and the disciples. When things and life seem hard, remember that they are the trials and tribulations needed to have a deeper faith. If we treat them as an opportunity to bend our knees and plead, with fasting, prayer and penance, then so be it. However, that is why we have spiritual advisors such as St Francis was to St Jane de Chantal. We need guidance, a different pair of eyes, a different urging and encouragement and, of course, the reassurance that we are still loved by God and that nothing, if it is according to His will, is impossible. We find consolation from our priests when spiritually we are lost. They can be our present day saints.


PAPA prays for our priests, praying that they too will be able to reach the many different personalities making up their parish. Personally, I delight in reading the personal note by the Pastor in the Church bulletin. He takes the time to convey the message to the needs, and the times and the different levels of spirituality to their parishioners. And like our Saint of the Day, may the priests show us trust in God, accepting and working on our imperfections, dealing with temptations and serving others with love. This advice is timely for any appointed time as our relationship with God does not change but grows.


Pray for the PAPA priests all over the world.





God Bless You





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