Message from Saint Francis de Sales

Dear Philothea!

As we grow closer to Christ and His Father, we certainly desire to be “perfect” to be free from the many imperfections and failings that still trouble us daily. What does our father Saint Francis de Sales tell us on this?

“You recognise thousands of imperfections and failings in yourself, contrary to your desire for purity and perfect love of God. In reply I say that it is not possible to avoid all of these. While we live on this earth, we have to put up with ourselves, until the day that God takes us to Heaven. Meanwhile, we can do no more than to keep a close watch on ourselves, and be patient. How can we correct in one day defects that we have contracted by our prolonged lack of diligence? Sometimes God has healed a person in an instant, without leaving a trace of his previous spiritual sickness. But in so many others He has left the scars of their conversation, for the greater benefit of their souls” (Letters 277).

When we learnt to “put up with ourselves” while acknowledging our many weaknesses we shall be well, “for He will not reject a humble and contrite heart” (Psalm 51: 17). Let us be very patient with our own selves.

Peace!

Fr. George

Spiritual Director

Message of the Week from Saint Francis de Sales

Dear Philothea!

This week (Monday 19^th March) we celebrate the solemnity of Saint Joseph. Our father Francis de Sales loved Saint Joseph and asked his spiritual sons and daughters to be devoted to him. This is one of his favourite teachings:

“Thinking about the grandeur of Saint Joseph, consider the words, ‘Lord look with favourable eyes on the good and upright of heart’ (cf. Psalms 36:11). I would like to say a few words about this saint whom we love so much because he has cultivated love in every heart. My God, how good and upright this great saint must have been if the Lord God gave him the lofty privilege of being entrusted with His Son and the Virgin-Mother Mary! With these two responsibilities, he could have been envied by the angels. Could anyone in all heaven possess any grater privilege than this? Who is there among the angels who could be compared with the queen of angels? And who can compare with the Son of God Himself? Yet Saint Joseph was closer to them than anyone else” (Letters 671).

As we celebrate his feast with love and joy, let us remember that he is always there to assist us in our needs. And we pray, “Saint Joseph Master of interior life, teach me to pray, to suffer and to be silent.”

Message of the Week from Saint Francis de Sales

Dear Philothea!

Lent is a time we not only sharpen our “love for God” but our “love for our neighbour” as well. Certainly we love some, and we are called to love everyone. Does it mean to be on friendly terms with everyone equally? Our father Saint Francis de Sales counsels:

“There is no need to get upset if we find that we are not on equally friendly terms with everyone, provided we love our neighbour cordially, with real affection, as the Lord has commanded us, preferring the other person always and in everything above ourselves, according to the order of holy charity, and never refusing to do anything we can for him or her. We must be prepared to do everything for our neighbour except damn ourselves!” (Spiritual Treatises IV)

Wish you a very friendly and loving week.

Peace!

Fr. George

Spiritual Director

May the Holy Virgin Mary Intercede for Us.

Message of the week - Set aside an hour every day...

“Just as little children learn to speak by listening to their mothers and lisping words after them, so also by keeping close to our Saviour and meditating on and observing His words, actions and affections, we learn by His grace to speak, act and will like Him. I assure you that we cannot go to God the Father except through this gate... Set aside an hour every day before dinner, or early in the morning when your mind is less distracted and fresher after the night’s rest” (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part II, Chapter 1)

Lenten Recollection at the Centre
This time our reflection is on the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation:
Africa's Commitment to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace
Every Saturday of Lent

Saint Rita Ministry (Hannah & Alice) donating the new Sunday Lectionary
to the Philothea Centre

Missionaries in Action:
Promoting the "You, Joseph" Book at the Karen Parish

Promoting the "Wellspring of Love" at the Karen Parish

Philothea Jesus Youth - Young People at the Centre for Recollection

Message of the Week

“Take for yourself the maxim of the apostle, “May I never boast of anything but the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Gal 6:14). Put Jesus crucified in your heart, and all the crosses of this world will seem to be roses. Those who have felt the puncture (stabs) of the crown of thorns of the Saviour who is our head will in no way feel any other wounds” (Letters 1420).

Word of Life Bible Study Programme

"Let the word of Christ in all its richness dwell in your hearts" (Col 3:16)

“Listen to him” (Mt 17: 5)

“Grant that as they meditate constantly on your word, 

they may grow in its wisdom and faithfully proclaim it to your people”

(Blessing of the Lectors, Ritual).

“Believe what you read, teach what you believe
and preach what you teach”

Message for the Season of Lent

“Lent is the autumn of the spiritual life during which we gather fruits to keep us going for the rest of the year. Enrich yourselves with these treasures, which nobody can take away from you and which cannot be destroyed. I am accustomed to say that we will not spend Lent well unless we are determined to make the most of it. Let us, therefore, spend this Lent as if it was our last, and we will make it well. Listen to the Sermons, because holy words are pearls; they are ships of infinite mercy – the true ocean of the East” (Letters 329).

Feast of Saint Francis de Sales

Philothea Missionaries with the Patron Bishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba

Friends of Philothea!

Philothea! Lovers of God!

Jackson Mugo Receiving the Certificate for successfully completing the Journey in Christ Programme from the Bishop

The Lord is my strength and shield

Dear Philothea!

Our father Saint Francis de Sales possessed great trust in the provident love of the Heavenly Father, and asked his spiritual children to cultivate the same. This is one of his well-known teachings on the subject:

“Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually: The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. he is not only with me, but in me and I in Him” (Saint Francis de Sales).

Jesus our Lord and God said: “Think of the ravens. They do not sow or reap; they have no storehouses and no barns; yet God feeds them. And how much more you are worth than the birds! Can any of you, however much you worry, add a single cubit to your span of life?

Wish you a trustful week.

Peace!

Fr. George

God's ways and our ways

Dear Philothea!

Many times we don’t understand God’s ways – that is, His ways of leading us in holiness. We want our life to go on smoothly without any problems, without anyone challenging us for our failures and so on. In short, we are hesitant to take the food that God offers, and prefer to follow our own tastes. This is how our Father Francis de Sales describes this state of our heart!

“God gave the children of Israel manna in the desert, a most delicious food; and what happens? They do not want it but set their heart on the garlic and onions of Egypt. Our miserable nature always wants to have things its own way and not God's way” (Selected Letters 59)

Let us accept the “food” that God has prepared for us, even if at times it is bitter. God’s ways are for our final salvation; instead our ways may lead us to perdition.

Wish you a wonderful week.

Peace!

Fr. George

How to Speak of God

Dear Philothea!

As “lovers of God” it is inevitable and important that we speak to God and of God many times. What counsel does our father Saint Francis de Sales give us on this?

“Always speak of God as of God, that is to say, with reverence and devotion without affectation or playing the preacher but with a spirit of gentleness, of charity and humility... Never speak of God or devotion negligently for the sake of talking, but always with attention and devotion. I say this for taking away from you a special kind of vanity which I find in many who make a profession of devotion. They say some fervent holy words at every turn by way of social tact without thinking of what they say. After saying them, they think that they are such as their words are, but it is not so” (IDL, Part III, Chapter 26).

Yes, if we love God we must speak of Him, and speak of Him with love, reverence, humility and gentleness: “Wisdom comes from the lips of the upright, and his tongue speaks what is right” (Psalm 37:30).

Wish you a week full of wisdom.

Peace!

Fr. George

Spiritual Director

Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of Ngong 
Mgr. John Oballa Owaa & Father George

Dear Philothea!

We have just begun the Novena in honour of our father Saint Francis de Sales. He was very much concerned about the holiness of everyone, and tried to trace a path to assist them in that. The following is one of his counsels to those who truly are “seeking God” (read: “devout life”) in their life:

“To preserve in devout life it is a matter of deciding upon some excellent and generous maxims, with the right intention. The first I would suggest to you is that of Saint Paul, “All turns out well for those who love God” (cf. Rom 8:28). If we agree that God can and does draw good out of evil, will He not do that especially for those who give themselves to Him without reserve? Even our very sins (from which may God preserve us!) are destined by Providence for the good of those who serve God. If David had not sinned, he would not have learned his deep sense of humility!...” (Letters 1420)

If David had not sinned...

May the teachings of Saint Francis de Sales act as lighted-lamps illumining our way to God.

Have a blessed week with lots of affectionate thoughts of our father!

Peace!

Fr. George

Spiritual Director

Novena to Saint Francis de Sales

Prayer to Saint Francis de Sales

(As a Novena Prayer you may recite the following prayer from Sunday the 15th January ending on 23rd January. The Feast is on Tuesday24th)

Saint Francis de Sales
Pray for us!

Dear Saint Francis de Sales, by your life and in your writings you teach us to follow Christ by loving God our Father, and all other persons, our brothers and sisters. Obtain for us the grace to be led by the Holy Spirit, so that we show our love for God by fidelity to prayer, by diligence in our work, by cheerful service of others.

Teach us to be patient and forgiving, kind and helpful to all. Help us to face the difficulties and sufferings of life with a heart full of trust in God our ever-loving Father.

Dear Saint Francis de Sales, while on earth you were always ready to help those in need. Come to my aid and obtain for me from God, through the intercession of Our Lady, the special grace for which I now pray.

[Pause]

O gentle Saint Francis, bless our home with your presence. May our hearts glow with love for God and a sincere concern for others, so that our lives may show in word and deed the blessing of your patronage. Amen.

Dear Philothea!

Our father Saint Francis de Sales is renowned for his teaching on doing everything motivated by love and not by force. At the beginning of the New Year, it might be a very good resolution to take, to put love into all our actions; we fulfil our duties because we LOVE it. Our Father says,

All by LOVE!

“All that we do must be motivated by love and not force. We must love to obey rather than fear to disobey. I leave you the spirit of liberty; not the liberty that excluded obedience, because this would be a liberty of the flesh, but the true spirit of liberty which includes obedience. When you have to omit your practices of piety for a just and charitable reason, I want you to make use of this occasion as a kind of obedience; then love will compensate for the spiritual exercises you have missed” (Letters 234).

Have a very “loving” year, will you?

Peace!

Fr. George

Spiritual Director

May the Mother of God bless you!

Dear Philothea!

A very happy and blessed New Year to you. We have many dreams for the year 2012, and await many blessings from the Lord. The Lord’s hand is not short (cf. Is 50:2). We shall receive many good things from him. He shall certainly grant all our hearts desires which correspond to His holy will. As we receive all these blessings, our father Saint Francis de Sales tells us not to forget the “Giver” of all such blessings:

“A mother to win over her child puts sweets into his mouth one after the other with her own hand. If the child were able to understand, he would find greater pleasure in the sweetness of his mother's loving attention and caresses than from the sweetness of the sweets. Philothea, it is a great thing, indeed, to have feelings of sweetness, but it is supreme sweetness  to realize that God, like a loving mother puts them with his own hand into our mouth, our hearts, our soul and our mind”  (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part 4, Chapter 13).

May the Lord make his presence felt in our life throughout the New Year 2012.

“If the Lord is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).

We wish you a very blessed New Year 2012 protected by our Holy Mother, the Theotókos!

Peace!

Fr. George

Spiritual Director