Wisdom from St Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church

Do everything calmly and peacefully. Do as much as you can as well as you can. Strive to see God in all things without exception, and consent to His will joyously. Do everything for God, uniting yourself to him in word and deed. Walk very simply with the Cross of the Lord and be at peace with yourself.

Saint Francis de Sales
Where there is peace and meditation, there is neither anxiety nor doubt.
Saint Francis de Sales
Let the enemy rage at the gate; let him knock, pound, scream, howl; let him do his worst. We know for certain that he cannot enter our soul except by the door of our consent.
Saint Francis de Sales

Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He is your keeper. He has kept you hitherto. Do you but hold fast to his dear hand, and he will lead you safely through all things; and, when you cannot stand, he will bear you in his arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. Our Father will either shield you from suffering, or he will give you strength to bear it.

Saint Francis de Sales

One great remedy against all manner of temptation, great or small, is to open the heart and lay bare its suggestion, likings, and dislikings before some spiritual adviser; for, . . . the first condition which the Evil One makes with a soul, when he wants to entrap it, is silence.

Saint Francis de Sales

I have made a pact with my tongue, not to speak when my heart is disturbed.
Saint Francis de Sales

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.

Saint Francis de Sales

Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself.
Saint Francis de Sales

For every great temptation there will be many small ones. Wolves and bears are more dangerous than flies, but we are bothered most by flies.

Saint Francis de Sales
Doing little things with a strong desire to please God makes them really great.
Saint Francis de Sales

Truly it is a blessed thing to love on earth as we hope to love in Heaven, and to begin that friendship here which is to endure for ever there.

Saint Francis de Sales

Let us think only of spending the present day well. Then when tomorrow shall have come, it will be called today, and then we will think about it.

Saint Francis de Sales
We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God. If at times we are somewhat stunned by the tempest, never fear. Let us take breath, and go on afresh.
Saint Francis de Sales
Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage. How are we to be patient in dealing with our neighbour’s faults if we are impatient in dealing with our own? He who is fretted by his own failings will not correct them. All profitable correction comes from a calm and peaceful mind.
Saint Francis de Sales

There is no better means of attainment to the spiritual life Than by continually beginning again.

Saint Francis de Sales
To lose ourselves in God is simply to give up our own will to Him. When a soul can truly say Lord I have no other will than Thine it is truly lost in God and united to Him.
Saint Francis de Sales
We have freedom to do good or evil; yet to make choice of evil, is not to use, but to abuse our freedom.
Saint Francis de Sales


Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.
Saint Francis de Sales

We do not very often come across opportunities for exercising strength, magnanimity, or magnificence; but gentleness, temperance, modesty, and humility, are graces which ought to colour everything we do. There may be virtues of a more exalted mould, but… these are the most continually called for in daily life.

Saint Francis de Sales
Let God be the air in which your heart breathes at ease.
Saint Francis de Sales
God will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Saint Francis de Sales

The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not “What a lovely sermon!” but “I will do something.”

Saint Francis de Sales
Whatever happens, abide steadfast in a determination to cling simply to God.
Saint Francis de Sales

Make yourself familiar with the angels and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.
Saint Francis de Sales
Have Jesus always for your patron, His Cross for a mast on which you must spread your resolutions as a sail. Your anchor shall be a profound confidence in Him, and you shall sail prosperously.
Saint Francis de Sales
All the science of the Saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer. And whoever had done these two things best, has made himself most saintly.
Saint Francis de Sales

Flowers often grow more beautifully on dung-hills than in gardens that look beautifully kept.
Saint Francis de Sales

The declared enemies of God and His Church, heretics and schismatics, must be criticized as much as possible, as long as truth is not denied. It is a work of charity to shout: ‘Here is the wolf!’ when it enters the flock or anywhere else.
Saint Francis de Sales