The book, “Sermons of St. Francis de Sales For Lent,” gives us twelve sermons by DeSales on key aspects of the Christian life given during Lent in 1622. The topics include fasting, how to resist temptation, the danger of losing one's soul, living faith vs. dead or dying faith, Christian attitude toward death, proper conduct in illness, God's special providence toward those living a spiritual life, the hidden meanings of Our Lord's Passion, eternal happiness, mutual charity, and many other topics.
If you are interested in obtaining this book, click here: https://embracedbygod.org/product/sermons-for-lent/
St Francis de Sales’ sermons during Lent 1622 begin with his discourse on fasting during Lent.
“I thought of speaking to you of the conditions which render fasting good and meritorious. Understand that of itself fasting is not a virtue. It is a virtue only when it is accompanied by conditions which render it pleasing to God.
We find some people who think that to fast well during the holy season of Lent it is enough to abstain from eating some prohibited food. We know very well that it is not enough to fast exteriorly if we do not also fast interiorly, and if we do not accompany the fast of the body with that of the spirit.
Now among all the conditions required for fasting well, I will select 3 principal ones...
The first condition is that we must fast with our whole heart, willingly, wholeheartedly, universally and entirely.
The second condition is never to fast through vanity but always through humility.
The third condition necessary for fasting well is to look to God and to do everything to please Him, withdrawing within ourselves in imitation of a great saint, St. Gregory the Great who withdrew into a secret place where he remained for a time.”
Three hundred and ninety-eight years later we can still learn from Francis as we work to create a rich and meaningful Lenten experience for ourselves.
Source: Sermons of St. Francis de Sales For Lent
“Sermon for Ash Wednesday” - February 9, 1622
DeSales Weekly: https://oblates.squarespace.com/desales-weekly
DeSales Weekly Editor: Rev. John (Jack) Kolodziej, OSFS
