New Year Reflections from St Francis de Sales

Salesian Resources have just released a video for the start of 2021, based on the humanist spirituality of St Francis de Sales. While intended for teaching staff in Salesian schools, it has words of encouragement for everyone, as Salesian Fr David O'Malley writes: "towards flexibility, adaptability and an invitation to touch the presence of God in their own lives as a source of resilience."

Watch the video here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N1YFJJfkvtc8ylkb4UY02H-hpgB-zfC7/view

Read the full text below:

We're off again into another new and uncertain term.

We've adapted to social distancing, hand washing, blended learning, staggered starts, bubbles risk assessments and isolating pupils and staff. And we did well.

But now we are faced with testing in school, a more infectious variant covid virus and another term of uncertainty.

Like a football team faced with a change in opposition tactics, we have to adapt, be ready to change practices, adjust timetables, readjust expectations and keep doing our best for our pupils.

But adapting takes energy, cooperation, creativity and commitment. It draws on our deepest motivations and our personal spirituality at the start of this term.

As a school motivated by Salesian spirit we often draw inspiration from Don Bosco but today we want to offer you the wisdom of St Francis de Sales, Don Bosco's patron, the saint who gave us our Salesian name.

Francis was a heart centred humanist Christian from around 1600 a mystic and Don Bosco's chosen patron saint. Francis writes:

When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time.

He speaks about the trees that survive the storm as the ones that can adapt by bending rather than breaking with the pressure of the storm. Francis advice:

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.

It is within that inner spiritual calm that curiosity and creativity emerge to help us adapt to new situations. Panic and discouragement switch off our ability to bend and adapt to new situations.

All this is based on a deep conviction that we are loved as staff, pupils and parents. It is that sense of being loved that gives us all resilience through change. St Francis reminds us that:

"The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either he will shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings."

So this term perhaps we should follow Francis's final advice:

"Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself...do not be disheartened by your struggles, but always rise up again and again with fresh courage. We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention generous, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on the mystery of a loving God."

LINKS

Salesian Blog: www.salesianschools.com/blog

Salesian Schools: www.salesianschools.com

Battersea Salesian House: www.salesiansbattersea.net