"As a young college student in the late 16th century, Francis de Sales suffered a great sense of hopelessness as he struggled with recent Protestant ideas about predestination. Francis was saddened to think that perhaps God had predestined him to eternal abandonment in hell. For months, he experienced what has been called the 'darkness of the soul' and a temptation to despair. When everything seemed beyond hope, Francis entered a church dedicated to Our Lady of Good Deliverance and knelt in front of a statue of the Virgin. He began to pray the Memorare: 'Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection or implored your help was left unaided. . . .' Immediately, his gloom and discouragement were transformed. Joy and hope filled his soul. Francis had begun his journey of conversion."
In a recent commentary, Father Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, reflected on, how, as today, the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrating "[her] own journey in life and in death," it may increase hope in "our own resurrection and eventual glorification in heaven."
To access Fr. Kolodziej's complete post, please visit:De Sales Weekly: Provincial's Reflection: Turning to Mary (22 AUG 24)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment