Visit of St. Francis de Sales: Christian Perfection requires Humility and Awareness of God's Presence at every moment - The "Persecution of the Enlightened" - How to Recognise if any Work is of, for and from God.
Ecstasy of July 9, 1878
“I am St. Francis de Sales.”
Marie-Julie: “Yes, I saw you once, but long ago.”
Saint Francis: “Ah, good! It is I who have come today on behalf of the Lord. The peace of the Lord be with you! I wish the same to all children of God and of His Cross.”
Marie-Julie: “Many thanks, good saint.”
Saint Francis: “God created us on earth to love Him, to serve Him, to worship Him and to live in the union of His Holy Presence and His Peace. To rise in Christian perfection, we need two things: first humility, and second, the Presence of God at every moment.
Humility is the safeguard of all virtues. Without this virtue, we cannot make progress in Christian life, nor in the advancement of Grace.
God communicates to us His light. He gives us His blessings because He wants us to return all to Him through these two great virtues. I tasted the Highest of God's love and I was admitted into the depths of His divine light. It is for us to understand the heights where God raises us. We can only understand them through the Light of God. As long as our own light exists, (i.e an I - Me attitude, self-interest, pride in self, etc,) one should not think of making progress in virtue. This lower light needs to be extinguished and God replaces it with one of His divine lights.
I kept multiple lights at once that made me discern the pain and joy of many souls that I led by the Divine Light, from a distance. The Light of God, in our minds, brings to our own mind the conditions of pain and joy, which is in each soul. This discernment was not given to all the Fathers of the Church. God does what He wants.
Christian perfection consists in a true love of God. The Love of God makes rapid progress in us, (I.e in the spiritual life), but do not put any obstacles to that love, if we want to rise in perfection.
I had much to suffer for this great Treatise on the Love of God; this is so difficult for the human
mind alone, (to understand by itself) that God must mingle this with His glory, that He wants us to develop in His greatness, His love and perfection.
Nothing can be acquired without suffering.
I paid for everything and God sold everything dearly (An odd expression from the French, probably means all of God's graces came at a high price = suffering.)
There are ways to experience God that men can not define or understand. Why? Because our
mind is too attached to things of little value.
To understand this better:
- First: it is absolutely necessary that you must have a special gift.
- Second: the mind must be clear and fully detached from all things
- Third, the proper light of God is newly recreated in our minds for us to understand, and delve further into all the great ways to the degree in which they are found. It is difficult to look further into the Divine Ways, but it can be done with the help and power of God.
First I gave my mind, my thoughts, my memory, all to God. I sacrificed everything to Him and I said, "Lord, for Your own glory and for my humility, that I can perfectly distinguish the operations of each of your wonders worked in myself." I acquired this great grace by penalties as rough as martyrdom, by unbearable suffering (that) without the grace of God ...
How that our brothers and men of earth can figure not these graces appear for nothing! (Difficult / odd translation from the French, perhaps he means to say, 'How can men figure that all these graces
cost nothing?') I know what they cost me and I know what it costs to those who are destined to develop them. I have not missed persecution, or slanders from all sides. But I can say it was a treasure of light for me because it was only when all these terrible persecutions (came) that I saw the desired light.
See how God tests with all sorts of troubles and tribulations. There came a time when, on the verge of the glory of God, I was everywhere overwhelmed by insults, outrages, to denounce me. I had a joy so complete, so perfect love, a peace so deep that I thought I already had the desired light.
If we only suffered from ignorant people, it would be very little. But to suffer from educated people, from people of integrity, of light. (I.e from those who should know and understand, for example, to be attacked by your own fellow priests and bishops when promoting God's work, etc.) This is called the PERSECUTION OF THE ENLIGHTENED. This is a merit infinitely large. All the strength and courage I had I found in the persecution by the bishops, from major prelates, which I received daily, denunciations of black and terrible accusations. All this only increased my faith and my love for God.
They strongly attacked me because I was giving advice to people who were far from me, but it was only by the light that God gave me. For all my trouble, I was corresponding with the soul far away from me. I understood and they understood me. Every pain and every love is shared between all the hearts that I had under my direction. That is what the Holy Spirit reported in a vision of the Holy Novitiate. This is nothing but a divine power and a direct permission of God. This is the true light, this is the perfect finger of God.
All the glories of God, if they are not pursued by people of both parties, (i.e the Church and the world) they are not fully of God.
If the persecution of the works of God are not many, it is a sign that the work will not go long. (i.e a work that is truly of God and done for God's glory will meet with many setbacks and triublations. If the road is 'too easy' it is a sign it won't go far, the work is not from God.)
I take proof from the great and illustrious St. Paul, who was caught up into Heaven. If the glory of God is not crossed, torn, exposed to all kinds of contradiction, this can not be purely the work of God.
If you knew what I suffered to start the first convent! If we knew it would take courage and be armed with a boundless confidence. As soon as the walls were started, the man of God who had the right to govern me (i.e his superior) demolished it and it fell before my eyes. I was overwhelmed, insulted, covered with shame, by all the people following the man of power. I had to support a terrible struggle for the words I wrote on the Love of God and of Christian perfection.
When God wants to do great things, He puts a lot of seals of all kinds. He must also go through the Cross, go through the trials of this life before entering the glory that God has promised ..."
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Notes: St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) was canonized in 1665. Bishop of Geneva, he struggled against Protestantism that ravaged France and Switzerland. By his fiery preaching, he brought back
many lost souls to the fold. He was also a great master of the spiritual life. With Saint Jeanne de Chantal, of whom he was director, he founded the Order of the Visitation, and for the Visitines wrote his famous Treatise on the Love of God. Another of his works, "Introduction to the Devout Life" had a deep and lasting influence. This great saint was awarded the title of Confessor of the Church, for his zeal to proclaim and to love the Truth. He also received a Ph.D. for the soundness of his doctrine and the wisdom of his teachings. It seems he came several times "to visit" during the ecstasies, to advise and comfort Marie-Julie, who recognized and welcomed him with great respect. It is not always the case with the saints! At first, she is very suspicious because she fears to be deceived by an illusion, which is a credit to her care. The martyrs who come to prepare (her) for the Holy Novitiate must "show their credentials," which is sometimes quite touching in her direct simplicity! (i.e the Heavenly visitors to her had to prove who they were so she would not be fooled by the demon). This fear of being the victim of an illusion, human or diabolical, is the signature of a great experience for us and a guarantee (i.e. a safeguard for us). (In other words, she could recognise St. Francis de Sales' holiness immediately, and did not have to test him as she usually did to make sure it was not an apparition of a devil to trick her. Biography provided by the 'Friends of Marie-Julie / Sanctuary Website.)
many lost souls to the fold. He was also a great master of the spiritual life. With Saint Jeanne de Chantal, of whom he was director, he founded the Order of the Visitation, and for the Visitines wrote his famous Treatise on the Love of God. Another of his works, "Introduction to the Devout Life" had a deep and lasting influence. This great saint was awarded the title of Confessor of the Church, for his zeal to proclaim and to love the Truth. He also received a Ph.D. for the soundness of his doctrine and the wisdom of his teachings. It seems he came several times "to visit" during the ecstasies, to advise and comfort Marie-Julie, who recognized and welcomed him with great respect. It is not always the case with the saints! At first, she is very suspicious because she fears to be deceived by an illusion, which is a credit to her care. The martyrs who come to prepare (her) for the Holy Novitiate must "show their credentials," which is sometimes quite touching in her direct simplicity! (i.e the Heavenly visitors to her had to prove who they were so she would not be fooled by the demon). This fear of being the victim of an illusion, human or diabolical, is the signature of a great experience for us and a guarantee (i.e. a safeguard for us). (In other words, she could recognise St. Francis de Sales' holiness immediately, and did not have to test him as she usually did to make sure it was not an apparition of a devil to trick her. Biography provided by the 'Friends of Marie-Julie / Sanctuary Website.)
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