So much good was done in the village of Annemasse by the devotion of the Forty Hours that Francis De Sales, a father who tried to provide for his sons and daughters, wanted Thonon to receive the same graces. So he arranged for the Forty Hours in that city as well. The holy bishop De Granier came to preside personally, but all the work of preparation was done by our holy apostle, his cousin Louis and the fervent Capuchins. The devotion began on Sunday, September 20, 1598. The saint preached in an immense congregation of people. With great piety he devoted himself to hearing confessions, and he gave instruction to the neophytes. A person who witnessed this testified at the process of his canonization that he could not have done so much work without supernatural help. Yet with this mountain of work our saintly missionary never seemed upset, nor did he complain about the poor weather that occurred at this time. Instead, with great mastery over himself he carried on tranquilly, ever ready to lend a hand and open the treasures of his charity to his neighbor. All this he did with so much dignity that he seemed to desire nothing except to satisfy those with whom he was dealing at the present moment. He went from one to the other with the same gentleness and kindness.
In the matter of Christian perfection, practice is much more important then theory. A simple shepherd girl can love God as deeply as the most learned person in the world.
September 19
You will find no vocation, no state in life, where there are no bitter experiences, no annoyances, no hard times. Everyone, except those who are fully resigned to the will of God, would like to change places with someone else. This general uneasiness of souls proceeds from the distaste they find when things do not go their way, and a certain influence of the evil spirit who presents the state of others as better than their own. But that is not true; whoever does not resign himself completely to the will of God will turn here and turn there, but he will never find peace.
(Letters 233; O. XII, pp. 348-349)
"My dearest daughter," Francis De Sales wrote on September 19, 1610 to a lady who had suffered much in a court case, "I have learned of all the trouble you have had to undergo and have recommended you to the Lord, so that He may give you the blessing that He pours on those who are His closest friends; that through your trials He may sanctify your soul. Cheer up, my daughter. How else can we show our fidelity to the Lord except on these occasions? When do we so need to hold our tongue, control our heart and our judgement, if not at these difficult times when we are so close to the edge of the precipice? For the love of God, my dear daughter, do not let such a favorable opportunity for your spiritual growth pass you by without gathering the fruits of patience, humility, meekness and the love of abjection. Remind yourself that Our Lord Jesus Christ did not say one word against those who condemned Him, nor did He judge them. He was unjustly judged and condemned, but He kept His peace and took His revenge only by praying for His persecutors. And we, my dear daughter, think we can set ourselves up as judges and litigants, arming ourselves with laments and reprovals!"
(A.S. IX, p. 442)
Even children and weak people can love God when everything is going smoothly; only souls that are strong and constant can love in rough times.
