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Sisters and Brothers³⁸

Saint Stephen

February 21, 1722

I, Paul Francis, your brother, a most miserable sinner and most unworthy servant of the Poor of Jesus Christ, am by divine decree about to leave these parts to go and follow the holy inspirations from heaven. I am going to withdraw into solitude to invite not only rational creatures, but also irrational and insensible nature to accompany me in weeping for my great sins and in lovingly praising God, whom I have offended so much. But before making this holy retreat, I did want to leave you, my brothers and sisters, with some spiritual advice in order that you may be inflamed with greater fervor in the holy love of your most loving God.

First of all, observe God’s holy law exactly. Fear with a holy filial fear that loving God, who created and redeemed us. You know, dearly beloved, that the more tenderly a son loves his father, the more he fears to displease, injure, or offend him. Let it be that way with you, dearly beloved. Always have this holy fear of offending God. It will be a bridle to restrain you from falling into sins. Love this dear Father with an ardent love; cherish a tender and reverent confidence in him. In short, may all your actions, all your words, sighs, pains, travails, and tears be all sacrificed to his holy love.

Persevere in this divine friendship and frequent the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. When you approach the sacred altar, let your greatest aim in doing so be that your souls may ever more and more be dissolved in his holy love. Oh! dearest ones, I say nothing to you about preparation, for I think you do what you can. Remember, it is a question of performing one of the holiest possible actions. Our dear Jesus could do nothing more than to give himself to us as food. Then let us love this dear Lover and be very devout toward the Blessed Sacrament. In church we should tremble with reverence. Let no day pass without making mental prayer for a half-hour, or at least a quarter of an hour, on the sorrowful Passion of the Redeemer. If you can, make more, but at least never neglect giving this much time.

Continually call to mind the sufferings of our Crucified Love and realize that those great saints, who are now triumphant in holy love up there in heaven, attained their great perfection by this road; yes, exercise yourselves in this celestial practice as much as you can, especially on Communion days. Familiarize yourselves with ejaculatory prayers and accustom yourselves to make them with your heart. For your greater profit I am jotting some down:

"Oh! dear God, would that I had never offended You." "Hope of my heart!" "Rather to die a thousand times than sin again." "Oh! my Jesus, when shall I love you?" "Oh! my highest Good, wound my heart with your holy love." "Anyone who does not love You, oh dear God, does not know you." "Would that all might love you!" "When will my soul be on fire with your Divine Love?"

ACTS OF RESIGNATION: "Your Holy Will be done." "Welcome, afflictions, I embrace you, I press you to my bosom. You are jewels sent to me by my Lord." "How beautiful to suffer!" "O dear hand of my God, I kiss you. Blessed, moreover, be that sacred lash that strikes me so graciously." "Oh! dear Father, it is good for me that you humble me." "Dear Good, my God, your scourges are the joys of my heart." "Yes, yes, my Jesus, to suffer or to die." And others according to your devotion and particularly acts of resignation to the Holy Will of God.

Be of good heart in afflictions, and know they are the most certain signs that you are friends of God. Offer frequent acts of sorrow for sin and acts of love of God. You can do this when walking, working, or even in the company of others, for in the end, although your body is surrounded by people, still your heart is not. Hence, you can do every good with your heart, even in the midst of the most serious occupations. Have a tender devotion to the Sorrows of Mary, to her most Holy and Immaculate Conception, to your guardian angels, your patron saints, and especially to the holy apostles.

Learn to love holy obedience. Oh, if you but knew how dear to God is this heavenly virtue! The truly obedient are saints. Remember that our gracious Jesus was obedient unto death, to death on the cross. Who would not learn to love holy obedience at the sight of God-Made-Man, who, rather than depart from holy obedience, yielded up his most holy life on the hard tree of the cross? There are souls in hell that fasted and did penance, but because they were not obedient, it was to no avail, and now they are burning in fire. But as for obedient souls, go as far as you will through those corridors of death, and you will certainly not find one.

In the first place then, have a deep respect and reverence for father and mother. Obey them blindly; I mean without talking about what they command you. Remember that father and mother, like our superiors, hold the place of God. Now think with what exactness we are bound to obey, respect, and reverence them. Speak to them with great respect. For the love of God, avoid answering them back, especially with unbecoming words. Help them lovingly and console them with great charity in their afflictions. Wait on them in every need, in sickness and so on. In short, remember it is they who gave us our corporeal being — with divine aid. So avoid displeasing your father and mother by disobedience, bad conduct, etc. Otherwise, you will fall out of favor with that great God, who, after chastising you with temporal scourges, has power to plunge your soul into the eternal flames of hell. May God free all of us from them. On the other hand, by obedience, as I hope, you will receive eternal blessings in this life and heavenly glory in the next. Courage then, dearly beloved. Live the holy law of God, live holy obedience. Obey, obey, obey, for I hope to see you saints in heaven, and pray that I, too, may acquire this celestial jewel. May God grant it to us all. Thanks be to God.

Humble yourselves to everyone for love of God. This is the advice of our dear Jesus, who tells us to learn of him for he is meek and humble of heart. Speak charitably to everyone, especially to your elders. Reverence everyone, especially priests.

Whichever one of you has to manage the temporal affairs of the house should do so with gentleness, patience, and humility. If you have debts, beg your creditors, should you be unable to pay, to have compassion on you out of love for God. Control your temper. If others owe you anything, try to secure payment without going to court. Have pity on everyone, especially the Lord’s poor.

In managing your affairs, remember to always consult your elders, especially father and mother. They should come first. Do nothing without their permission. When you have to travel, if the journey is to be a long one, remember to go to Confession and Communion first, and then get the blessing of father and mother. Strive to hear Mass daily. When prevented by necessity, hear it in your heart, that is, by desire. While I am speaking of desire, desire often to unite yourself with the Lord in a holy spiritual communion. To sum up, do all you can to be true servants of God. Suffer tribulations willingly; remember they are pledges of God’s love. The greatest sufferings are reserved for the greatest servants of God. Have courage and do not fear the multitude of your afflictions — make a bundle of them and place it on the bosom of your soul, perfuming it with the fragrance of patience.

Finally, I beg you always to remember that holy precept of love which Jesus taught his disciples at the Last Supper before going to his death: "My beloved apostles, a new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you." Oh, what gracious words! The example is clear. Love one another, love one another, my dearest brothers and sisters. Remember, you will never please God if you do not love one another. Let there never be any dissension among you, and, if ever any sharp words should pass among you, be quiet at once and do not keep on talking. Let not disdain take possession of your hearts. So I repeat to you with Saint John: love one another, love one another, for in this is the love of God known. Show great love toward God’s poor.

Obey one another, especially the younger toward the older — although with you there should be no seniority. Be humble, wait upon one another, console one another. I particularly recommend that you respect your sisters much, showing them all possible deference, treating them charitably, and assisting them in all their needs.

Read some spiritual book every day. Avoid idle companions as you would the devil. Go to church often to adore the Blessed Sacrament and reverently visit the altar of Mary. Do this especially before going to school and inculcate it also on other children. In short, remember to do whatever you can to serve God, keeping his holy law, inflaming your hearts more and more in the holy love of God. If you do otherwise, remember that you will experience the scourge of the great God in this life, and hereafter you will be buried in its wrath and fury in the eternal flames of hell — from which may God preserve us all.

I also leave you then in the sacred Wounds of Jesus, under the protection of the Sorrowful Mother, praying to her in particular to bathe you and the whole family in her sorrowful tears that you may have a continual remembrance of her sorrows, and that she may give you perseverance in the holy love of God, strength, and resignation to suffer. Take Mary Most Sorrowful as your protectress and never cease to meditate on the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Christ.

May God in his mercy grant all of you his holy benediction, and you also pray to God for me.

Thanks be to God and to Mary Ever a Virgin.

Your most unworthy brother,

Paul Francis, Least Servant of the Poor of Jesus Christ

38.

Before leaving Paul wants to offer his sisters and brothers some spiritual advice. This letter reminds us of the Introduction to the Devout Life of Saint Francis de Sales.