January 23 2023 - St. Francis de Sales - "The measure of love is to love without measure"

 “Love one another as I love you,” the Lord said to his disciples the night before he died. And St. Francis de Sales—remembered and honored by the Church today—took seriously those words. 

St. Francis believed this and spent his life seeking to conform himself with that love, and as a good priest, bishop, and spiritual director, helped others do the same. Due to his writings and his labors, he was granted the title, doctor of the Church. In fact, he is even known as the Doctor of Charity, for his great insights into helping Christians love as Christ loves.

Echoing the sentiments of the Master, St. Francis de Sales wrote, “the measure of love is to love without measure”.  

Christ’s love was love without measure. He died for the greatest of sinners. He bore the weight of my sin and yours. Forgiveness is available to everyone who seeks it because Christ’s love is without measure. As the Father loves me, so I love you. I love you. 

And that indeed is part of our mission, isn’t it? To make known the love of God. The love of God that impelled Christ to lay down his life for us. The love of God that is to become the foundation of our lives. The gentle charity and mercy of the Father that is available to every sinner. If this does not motivate you, what does? 

To advance in holiness is to advance in love—to love without measure. Give without counting the cost, the Lord teaches in the Gospel, and he doesn’t offer this teaching, without backing it up by his own example. 

St. Francis de Sales wrote, “It is not those who commit the least faults who are the most holy, but those who have the greatest courage, the greatest generosity, the greatest love, who make the boldest efforts to overcome themselves, and are not immediately apprehensive about tripping.”

Sometimes Christians get in this mindset, if I just go throughout life without committing faults, then I’ll go to heaven. But the Lord teaches that the way to heaven
is not just avoiding sin, but also involves growing in charity—seeking to become more generous—courageously generous—day by day--being transformed into love. 

Through the example and prayers of St. Frances de Sales may we learn to love without measure those God brings into our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.

For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her, care for her, and aid her in her mission.

For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may establish and preserve harmony among us.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may grant them relief and move Christians to come to the aid of the suffering.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.