January 14, 2024
Beginning this coming Thursday January 18, the Church takes eight days to pray with other Christian denominations for the gift of true and lasting unity, which Christ spoke of to his disciples at the Last Supper when he said, “… that they may be one so that the world may believe” (John 17:21). Unfortunately, many divisions have prevented this from happening these past few hundred years, but moments of genuine progress are being made.
Perhaps St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of our diocese whose feast we celebrate on January 24th, offers us the key to defending the truth and beauty of our faith while, at the same time, engaging with others outside the fold in authentic, respectful dialogue. Every conversation Francis de Sales had with Protestant Christians was centered on these key principles: Don’t overcomplicate your faith; be attentive to beginning and ending all things quietly; do all that you can with Christ-like love; and may God’s pleasure be the principle end of all our actions.
Certainly, in a modern world where civil discourse has seemed to become more and more vitriolic, may the “Gentleman Saint” be our guide in how we speak with others who may think differently than us, and may we adopt his advice as our own: “Do everything in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if the whole world seems upset.”
To our neighbors and friends at Fair Hill Church who lease our school property, be assured of our prayers for your faith community as together we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.