Ryan Corey, Salesianum School Class of 2022
St. Francis de Sales: bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church. That is exactly who he was and who he is to many. However, to me, he is someone that means so much more. He has had a profound impact on my life and will undoubtedly continue to have this effect as I move into the next chapter of my life at college. To me, Francis de Sales will always be the person that changed how I view life.
Ever since my freshman year at Salesianum, I have always been constantly reminded of one quote daily: “Be who you are and be that well.” When I first heard that I more or less shrugged it off; I didn’t think about too much. It was simply just the Salesianum equivalent of sayings such as “Be you” or “Be yourself”, except Francis de Sales came up with this one. But no, It was so much more than that. I first fully began to understand the quote when I heard the second part, “To give honor to the master craftsman whose handiwork you are.” Well now I’m not just being me for myself, I’m being me for God, but there was still one issue, what exactly does “Being who you are being that well” mean. It cannot just mean doing what I want to do because that’s who I think I am. No, it must mean I should try to use all my gifts and talents to their fullest, even if that means that I have to do something I don’t want to do. Now, my mind goes back to Saint Francis every day. Every assignment I don’t want to do, every shift I don’t want to work, I think back and realize that not doing these things would be failing to be my best self. Even more so, not trying to help my friends, family, or anyone who may need me, even in the smallest ways possible, would be failing to be my best self. Likewise, everyone around me, just by doing the things they are called to each day, is being their best selves.
Beyond being my best self, I find that I always turn back to Saint Francis de Sales at particularly stressful times in my life, especially right now with the spring semester having just begun. At times such as these, I’m always reminded of my favorite quote from Saint Francis. It is a quote that reminds me that no matter what happens in life, no matter how bad things may seem, God will always be there for me, to turn to and hold on to. And so I end with it, “Do not fear what may happen tomorrow, the same understanding Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. He will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.”
