January 24--St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

The Reformation was 50 years old when St. Francis de Sales was born in 1567.  He was the son of an aristocratic family in the duchy of Savoy, which bordered France, Italy, and Switzerland.  He was educated as a lawyer and was set to become a senator and married to an heiress of Savoy when he declared his intentions to become a priest.  Although initially opposed by his father, the bishop of Geneva obtained for him a high position in the diocese, which satisfied his father.  At the age of 35 he became bishop of the Diocese of Geneva, which had become Calvinist during the Reformation.

Calvinism taught that God predestined those who were going to heaven and those who were going to hell before the universe was created.  According to John Calvin, God's sovereign will could not be stopped and no one could oppose what God had chosen for us.  This heresy against the gift of free will is what Francis faced, but he did so with kindness, learning, zeal, and holiness, so much so that he has been titled Doctor of Charity.  He also wrote extensively making him the patron saint of writers and journalists.

God gives all of us the gift of heaven through the Paschal Mystery of Jesus' death and resurrection.  But God does not force us to love him.  Nor does he force us to sin against him.  We have free will that allows us to respond to his love with love, or hate.  It is a great gift to be free, to be able to love, to be able to do God's will. With this gift we may win others to Christ by our love of him and of them as St. Francis de Sales demonstrated.

January 17--St. Anthony of Egypt, Hermit

Why would anyone want to live a life separated from the rest of society, from family, friends, and colleagues?  That is what St. Anthony of Egypt chose in the third century, but not because he was anti-social or misanthropic.  He chose a solitary life as his form of discipleship.  He spent his life in prayer.

Do you believe in the power of prayer?  Do you really believe that God answers our prayers?  Really?  God answers our prayers in many ways, sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes later.  Sometimes he answers our prayers through others or through our experiences or difficulties.  God may require us to be persistent and perseverant in our prayer, praying that his will, not ours be done.  

Is it worth dedicating your life to?  St. Anthony did, as do many men and women who have become monks and nuns.  There have dedicated themselves to praying, in praise of God, in intercession for others, in thanksgiving for the gifts we have received.  We too are called to pray so that we may know God's will, that we may praise him, that we may intercede for others, and that we may express our love and devotion.  To live a life of prayer is to live a life in constant conversation with God.  That is what St. Anthony chose.  Not a bad choice, if you think about it.