Preparing for Francis de Sales - one or two unusual
contexts to think about
ROME: 17th January 2006 -- It is just a week away from a
Feast which is itself just a week away from another Feast, both
intimately linked by the title Salesians of St. John Bosco. What
are you doing to prepare for the Feast of St. Francis de Sales?
Are there any resources you might look for to help? Some of what
you will find below may help, and the rest, well, Francis de Sales,
too, was a little playful at times!
The Liturgy texts, other than in the official
printed version of Masses for the Society of St. Francis de Sales
which should be in all communities, can be downloaded from
www.sdb.org. From Bosconet, on the other hand, you can download a
16 page brief biography of the Saint which is useful reading to brush
up on a few facts - and you could go to any of the Catholic online
encyclopedia's, indeed, even Wikipedia, to get the basic facts. An
excellent 10 page outline of his role as patron of journalists can be
downloaded at www4.desales.edu/SCFC/Studies/Winklehner.pdf
You were aware, of course, that Francis de Sales is
patron Saint of journalists, so no surprise to learn that the rewritten
handbook for Social Communications in the Province, entitled Salesian,
Communicator (draft copies have been in the hands of the Delegate
in all English-speaking Provinces for a month or more), encourages
communities to do something special to mark the 'communications' aspect
of this Feast day. One suggestion is to invite local media
people, Catholic or otherwise, to the community for an informal
get-together. John Paul II always chose this day to release his World
Communications Day theme. Any one of the 30 or more themes could
offer interesting reflections for the community. Benedict XVI may
not adhere to that day, but his first address, last April, other
than Urbi et Orbis and later to the Cardinals, was to
media people, essentially to thank them for the coverage of the events
of JP's death and his own election.
One more item that may help on 24th itself.
Expect an informative and useful letter from the Social Communication
Councillor, Fr Tarcisio Scaramussa.
Now a few scattered items to put Francis in
context. It's a little quiz (with answers)! Francis was
named Francis Bonaventure, so perhaps he should have been a
Franciscan! Francis de Sales was a contemporary of William
Shakespeare. They were both writers, and both 'best-sellers'. In
addition to two hot-selling books, Francis also purportedly
wrote 20,000 letters during his life time, 2,000 of which are extant. They are gems in polished French.
Pope Pius XI proclaimed Francis de Sales patron of journalists
on 26th January 1923 - two days after we celebrate his feast day.
Odd? No. At that time his feast was celebrated on 29th
January. Who else is Francis De Sales patron of? The deaf
and hearing challenged. When he was staying in Roche, France, for
a short time, a deaf-mute came begging. His name was
Martin. Francis felt moved by his situation, devised a series of
signs with his hands and taught Martin the basics of his faith so he
could receive communion and be confirmed. He later employed
Martin as a gardener at Annecy. Martin survived him, and there
was almost nobody more devoted to the good Bishop than his gardener.
Do you know when Francis took his first 'step'
towards priesthood? He received the tonsure when he was nine -
his father thought nothing of it and was shocked years later when
Francis told him he would be ordained. He went to University at
age 14 (Paris) and was a Doctor of Law by 24.
One last small contextual item - his
feast falls on the 7th day in the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity. Coincidence that one, but not out of place, for sure.
VOCABULARY
purportedly: thought to be so - not proven
extant: in existence
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