As I write this, I’m waiting with the rest of the world to see if Russia will invade Ukraine. Maybe I’m naive, but this potential act of aggression does not reflect what I hope for in the nature of world discourse and politics today. I am disappointed that Russia is not oriented more towards discussion, collaboration, and compromise than an invasion.
However, the potential for an invasion is real, and it reflects the persistent presence of conflict in our world and culture. Consider the many forms of protest over Covid regulations that are disrupting commerce and lives around the world, violent misogynistic behaviors against women around the world, the impregnable disputes between our political parties, the rifts in local governments, institutions, and families. We are surrounded by threatening, paralyzing, and seemingly hopeless experiences of conflict.
St. Francis de Sales dealt with similar experiences during his lifetime. He lived at the height of the Protestant Revolution and the religious conflict in France between Catholics and Huguenots (Calvinist Protestants). The conflict was experienced throughout France, most intensely in Paris. In August 1572, during the French Wars of Religion, the St. Bartholomew’s massacre demonstrated a new militant Catholicism. This militant approach, spurred on by clergy and nobility excoriating and demonizing Protestants, resulted in hundreds of Protestants losing their lives in Paris and other locations throughout France. Radical Catholics dragged, dismembered, and hung Huguenots in public view after killing them.
Following his ordination in 1597, St. Francis often preached against violence and war. He sees war as the product of sin, and eradicating sin eliminates war. While De Sales opposed Protestantism, he viewed it as a pastoral problem to solve through preaching, education, persuasion, and goodwill, rather than blunt force or war. Francis wrote: “Let us exchange bad will for goodwill, bad courage for good courage. If we have charity among us, we will have peace.”
We all face conflict, which at times leads to destructive, aggressive, and alienating behaviors. Step back for a moment and let yourself recognize where conflict exists in your life. When you identify it, follow De Sales and seek the way of charity and peace. Listen to others with an open mind and heart, discuss differences, as Francis would encourage, “heart to heart.” See goodness in others and seek peace through collaboration and understanding. In doing so, you build the Kingdom which Christ established and invited us to continue in His name.
May God be blessed.
Fr. Jack Loughran, OSFS
Provincial
Toledo-Detroit Province
