Good Morning. I am so honored to be here to witness to my own Salesian journey and to join with you in yours.
Four years ago I came to Salesianum School in Delaware with an extensive background in Theology and education but, to be honest, relatively little acquaintance with St. Francis de Sales.
Of course I had heard of him – the gentleman saint – and of the Oblates, but I confess I had little knowledge of the particulars of Salesian spirituality or the charism of the Order, but I knew I would be brought up to speed quickly and I was eager to learn.
A little context may be useful here: familiarity with religious orders and communities came naturally to me . As a child I was educated by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (I affectionately acknowledge that they formed a large part of the village that helped to raise me.)
My high school, SMG, had many religious sisters on staff including Franciscans, SSj’s SND’s and Sisters of Mercy as well as still more IHM sisters.
At Villanova I was educated by and with Augustinians and my brother spent 30-some years with the Jesuits at BC High while my daughter attended and later worked at Fairfield University, so I could hardly escape Jesuit influence.
In my own teaching career, I have worked with SND’s IHM’s, Sisters of Mercy, Augustinia ns and Pallottines.
Whew! So I am very familiar with how a religious community’s charism impacts an educational institution – hence, I wanted and needed to learn all about the Oblates and SFdS.
It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship for me.
You see, Francis’ idea of universal holiness – that we are all called to be holy – wasn’t new to me. Jesus told us all to go out and proclaim the Kingdom, I knew that it wasn’t only up to those in clergy or consecrated religious life. I am a married, female Catholic theologian who knows that we should all aspire to be the saints we are all called to be.
So what did my eager study of Francis de Sales bring to me?
In all honesty, my research yielded little in comparison with what immersion in the Salesianum School brotherhood gave to me.
Each and every day, each and every member of the Sallies community is challenged to live Jesus through humility, patience and tenacity. Gentle reminders are present in every class and every activity, walking through the halls, surrounded by reminders of the Salesian virtues we seek to practice, one can hear the students calling each other to behavior befitting a Salesian gentleman.
From my earliest days at Salesianum, I was captivated by the obvious commitment to the virtues of St. Francis de Sales that I saw, literally, everywhere. The students seemed to genuinely take pride in their formation and it mirrored the commitment of the Oblates and the faculty at large. The Direction of Intention was clearly held dear and the motto of Tennui Nec Dimittam was an obvious source of empowerment for all.
And let’s not forget “be who you are and be that well”!
Could there be a better quote to drive the work of education? As we all know, in Catholic education, that means we are fostering in the students the realization that they are made in the image and likeness of God and are, therefore, born to be holy. And, as you may know, St. Francis de Sales proclaimed that knowledge is the 8th sacrament of the Church. (I have heard that he addressed that point specifically to priests, but its universality seems very clear to me, as an educator!)
As I live out my vocation as a Catholic school religion teacher and, I admit, a lifelong aspiring saint (I think I can say it to this crowd) - the example and teachings of St. Francis de Sales have added a beautiful, gentle perspective to the work, especially helping me to meet the challenges with intention (what many today are calling mindfulness) and tenacity – in fact, I promise this to God repeatedly each day as I recite the Direction of Intention with the Salesianum community.
Personally, too, apart from my work at school, the influence of St. Francis de Sales is with me. Let’s face it: words are powerful and living each day immersed in the Salesian atmosphere at Salesianum has had a profound effect on my personal life as well.
I believe I have tried to live Jesus all my life, but singing about “Jesus whom I love” with the Oblates and experiencing daily reminders over the PA from the students keep me focused on the all-important awareness of the presence of God at every moment and the promises I have made.
Gentleness, patience, tenacity, gratitude and accepting all the difficulties now form the soundtrack in my moments of reflection.
When we pray “I give you my soul, my heart, my understanding and my will” each day at Salesianum, I re-commit myself to the truest most enduring vocation I have ever known – the vocation to try, every day and in every situation to be my best self in order to give glory to God.
So, I resolve, every day and in every situation, to recognize my dependence on God’s grace, to offer any good I do to God, and accept, with patience and tenacity, any difficulties or frustrations that come.
And my heart is full of gratitude.
This is my expression of Salesian Spirituality.
Thank you and God bless you all. Live Jesus.
