Novena in Honour of St.Francis de Sales 

(15th to 23rd January 2026)

Click on the links below to go to that day of the Novena

Click here for more novenas to SFS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

On behalf of our beloved Superior General, Rev. Fr. Johnson Kallidukil, and the General Curia, I sincerely acknowledge and thank Rev. Fr. Tony Prem Anand for graciously sharing his reflections for the Novena to St. Francis de Sales in preparation for the feast.

The thoughtful reflections have beautifully brought out the spirit of Salesian spirituality and will surely help our confreres to prepare themselves prayerfully and meaningfully for the feast of our beloved Patron. We deeply appreciate his generosity in offering his time, prayer, and spiritual insight for the benefit of the Congregation. He presently serves as bursar of Pune Province.

May St. Francis de Sales continue to guide and bless our ministry abundantly.

With prayerful gratitude,

Fr. Naveen Nirmal MSFS,

The Director of De Sales & Mermier Resource and Animation Centre, Hyderabad..

Day-1 (15/1): Let’s Mind our Tongue – The Mirror of our Soul

 The theme for our Novena today is Let’s mind our Tongue – The mirror of our soul.

Among all the gifts God has given us, speech is one of the most powerful yet delicate gift. Through our words we reveal not only our thoughts, but the quality of our inner life. With a few words we can encourage or discourage, heal or wound, unite or divide.

St. Francis de Sales teaches us to look at speech not merely as sound or expression, but as a mirror of the soul. Very often, life does not become joyful or miserable because of great events, but because of words repeatedly spoken in our homes, communities, workplaces, parishes, and even within ourselves. What we habitually think and lovingly or carelessly speak slowly shapes who we become. Depending on what we speak we reap.

Gentle and well-considered words, spoken with humility and charity, have a remarkable power to make life almost magical creating trust, warmth, and peace. At the same time, careless, sharp, or unbecoming words carry an equally strong power to make life malicious and miserable, leaving wounds that often remain hidden but deeply felt.

We may excuse ourselves by saying, “I did not mean it.” Yet St. Francis de Sales gently reminds us that once words are spoken, they do not return. They travel from heart to heart, penetrate deeply, and often remain long after the speaker has forgotten them.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 18: 7-8, 21

The mouths of fools are their ruin, and their lips a snare to themselves. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Teachings of St. Francis de Sales:

(after each thought pause a moment and then read the next)

Ø  “Just as doctors get a good knowledge of the health or illness of a person by examining the tongue, similarly, our words (tongue) are the signs of the quality of our SOUL.”

Ø  “Just as the bees do not extract anything else but only honey with their tiny mouths, so also our tongue shall always be delighted in speaking about God.”

Ø  “We must always speak of God as of God. Speak of God, Sing His praises, inspire others. (IDL. III. 26.)

Ø  “Take GREAT CARE that you do not let slip any UNBECOMING words from your lips. Even though you may not say them with an evil intention, those who hear them may take them in a different way. An unbecoming word which falls into a feeble heart spreads and extends like a drop of oil on a piece of cloth.”

Ø  “Just as what poisons the body enters through the mouth so too what poisons to heart enters through the ear. The tongue which produces it is murderous.”

Ø  Therefore, preserve your Tongue and Ear for God and to goodness. Consider this beautiful example from St. Francis de Sales.  Drawing his inspiration from the Holy Bible, in particular from the story of the Holy couple Rebecca and Isaac he says. “Ladies both ancient and modern have been accustomed to hang a number of pearls from their ears. They do so for the pleasure of hearing them jingle when they touch one another. But as to me, I know that the great friend of God Isaac sent EARRINGS to the chaste Rebecca as the first pledges of his Love. (Gen.24.22). I think this mystical ornament has a meaning. The first thing a Husband should have from a wife and a wife from a husband is to faithfully keep their ears for each other. Thus no speech or rumour can enter there except the Gentle and pleasant sound of chaste and modest (and motivating) words.” (IDL. III. 38)

Ø  Listening and speaking are two essential pillars of every healthy relationship whether in marriage, religious communities, families, workplaces, parishes, or society at large. A patient listener, in any context, becomes a source of stability, understanding, and trust. The words we choose, and the manner in which we speak them, have immense power to shape relationships for good or for harm. Speech can determine the success or failure of relationships at every level of life. Those who cultivate healthy relationships gradually learn and practice a delicate art:

• Remaining calm when emotions run high and tensions arise,

• Choosing the right moment to speak, especially when peace has been restored,

• Refraining from words that irritate, provoke, or wound, and

• Consciously choosing words that encourage, motivate, heal, and build communion.

Such disciplined and loving use of speech fosters mutual respect, deepens bonds, and creates an environment where individuals feel safe, valued, and understood.

Resolution: Resolve to Mind our tongue for both death and life are in the power of the tongue. Let’s preserve our ears and our mouths to listen and proclaim the goodness of God.

Prayer:

Gentle and loving God,

You have entrusted me with the gift of speech.

Purify my heart, that my words may be pure.

Teach me to speak with gentleness, humility, and love.

Through the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales,

may my tongue become an instrument of peace and a sign of Your grace.  Amen.

• Our Father…., Hail Mary……, Glory be….

• Novena Prayer to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

• St. Francis de Sales… Pray for us.

• Hymn to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page) 

Day-2 (16/1): Cast out gossips, ridicule and slander – Spell out blessings

The theme for our Novena today is Cast out gossips, ridicule and slander – instead spell out blessings upon all who we meet and relate with.

Religious life, family life, and community life are built not only by prayer, structures, and good intentions, but very often by daily words, spoken casually, repeatedly, and sometimes thoughtlessly. Many vocations, relationships, and communities do not collapse because of grave scandals, but because of small, unchecked habits of speech that slowly erode trust, dignity, and charity.

St. Francis de Sales, with his keen pastoral insight, identifies ridicule, slander, and gossip as some of the most destructive enemies of Christian charity. These vices poison relationships silently. They divide communities, wound hearts, and create fear, insecurity, and bitterness, often under the disguise of humour, concern, or harmless conversation.

St. Francis insists that guarding the tongue is not a secondary virtue, but a serious spiritual responsibility in every sphere of life.

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:29-32

“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God… Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

Teachings of St. Francis de Sales:

(Pause briefly after each thought before moving to the next)

Ø  Avoid Ridicule and Mockery (making fun of others): “Ridicule and Mockery can never be without such contempt. So it is a very serious sin. It is the worst form of offence we can commit against our neighbour by words. Mockery provokes laughter through the contempt and scorn of our neighbour. It reduces the confidence of the person to nothing and puts them to shame in public.” (IDL, III, 27)

St. Francis unmasks mockery for what it truly is. It is violence disguised as humour. Often, when everyone around is laughing, someone is crying silently within, wounded by words spoken casually, often by friends, companions, or family members. The pain caused by ridicule is deep because it attacks a person’s dignity and self-worth. No one wishes to be reduced to a laughing stock. Every human person, regardless of education, status, or role, bears a God-given dignity that must never be violated.

Ø  Avoid Slander (spoiling the good reputation and name of the other): “With a single stroke of a tongue, the slanderer usually commits three murders:

• Murder of one’s own soul,

• Murder of the soul of the one who listens,

• And murder of the social life of the one who is slandered.” (IDL III, 29)

Quoting St. Bernard, St. Francis adds:

“The one who slanders and the one who listens to slander both have the devil in them—one in the tongue and the other in the ears.” (IDL III, 29)

Slander does not merely pass information; it destroys reputation, fractures communities, and spreads spiritual death. It is a grave injustice committed against an absent person who cannot defend himself or herself.

Ø  Avoid Gossip:

• “If you hear someone spoken ill of, make the accusation doubtful, if you can justly do it.” (IDL III, 29)

• He then urges us to ask: Is what is said certainly true? What good does this conversation bring to the absent person? What good does it bring to me, to others, or to the community?

• He   further exhorts:       “Excuse       the   intention      of     the person accused.

• Show compassion and change the subject. Say something positive about the person if possible.” (IDL III, 29)

• And most importantly: “Remember that those of us who have not fallen into such miseries are preserved not by our merit, but by the grace of God.” (IDL III, 29)

St. Francis de Sales teaches us that charity lives or dies on the tongue. Ridicule humiliates, slander assassinates reputations, and gossip corrodes trust. Together, they form a silent but powerful force that can destroy religious communities, families, friendships, workplaces, and parishes.

True holiness is not proved by how well we pray alone, but by how carefully we speak when others are absent, how gently we correct, and how firmly we refuse to participate in conversations that harm charity.

Resolution: Resolve to sow seeds of good words in all circumstances

Prayer:

Lord God,

You have entrusted me with the powerful gift of speech.

Purify my tongue from words that wound,

and my ears from conversations that poison charity.

Through the gentle wisdom of St. Francis de Sales,

teach me to speak with humility, truth, and love,

so that my words may heal, unite, and give life.

Amen.

• Our Father…., Hail Mary……, Glory be….

• Novena Prayer to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

• St. Francis de Sales… Pray for us.

• Hymn to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

Day-3 (17/1): ‘Let not Criticism and Negative Comments of people shake you but shape you.’

The theme for today’s Novena is, ‘Let not Criticism and Negative Comments of people shake you but shape you.’

One of the quiet yet powerful forces that drains our enthusiasm, motivation, and inner strength is criticism and negative speech, unfair judgments, ridicule, careless remarks, and constant fault-finding. Often, these words do not come from strangers, but from people we live with, work with, pray with, or serve alongside. When repeated, such comments can unsettle our peace, weaken our confidence, and make us question our worth, intentions, and even our vocation.

In religious life, family life, community life, and professional settings, negative comments can become subtle weapons. They do not always attack openly; sometimes they disguise themselves as concern, correction, or even humour. If we are not attentive, we slowly begin to live according to the judgments of others rather than according to God’s truth.

St. Francis de Sales, with great realism and pastoral wisdom, teaches us that the world is not a fair judge. To seek approval from the world is to place our peace in unsafe hands. Instead, he invites us to cultivate a quiet interior strength the art of not allowing criticism to shake us, but to shape us, purifying our intentions and anchoring us more firmly in God.

Scripture Reading: John 15:18–19

“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you.

If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own.

Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you.”

Teachings of St. Francis de Sales based on (IDL IV, 1)

(After each thought, pause briefly and reflect)

Ø  Quoting the words of Jesus from the Gospel, St. Francis says:

“If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, the world hates you.” 

“The world is an unfair judge. It is gracious and lenient to its own children but harsh and rigorous with the children of God.”

Ø  St. Francis explains that if we agree with the world’s negative suggestions, live according to its expectations, flatter it beyond what is true, and place its interests above the common good, the world will approve us. But if we do not, whatever we do will be criticised, ridiculed, and misinterpreted.

Ø  To illustrate this, he recalls Scripture: “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and drunkard.’ (Mt 11:18–19)

Ø  Thus, “We cannot please the world without losing ourselves with it. We can never satisfy it, for it is so peculiar; it always looks upon us with prejudice and exaggerates our imperfections.”

Ø  Even Jesus was not spared unjust criticism. Therefore, St. Francis asks plainly: If even Christ was misunderstood, what should we expect for ourselves?

Ø  “Whether the sheep have horns or not, whether they are black or white, the wolf looks only to devour them.”

Ø  So also the world, he notes, watches closely only for faults, magnifies small weaknesses, and excuses its own excesses.

Ø  Spiders always spoil the work of the bees. But it is the nature of the bees to always produce the best. Choose to be BEES if you want honey in your life.

Ø  Let us ignore the blind world. Let it cry out as much as it wants, like an owl trying to disturb the birds of the day.

Ø  Be firm in our intentions, unwavering in our decisions in our commitment to devout life and to do good and live in goodness.

Ø  “Criticisms and reproaches are a great help to keep us firm and to perfect us. They help us escape the danger of vanity, pride, and false egoistic tendencies.”

Resolution: Resolve to please God in everything, let criticisms not shake you but shape you. 

Prayer

Loving and faithful God,

You know how easily my heart is troubled by criticism and negative words.

Grant me the grace to seek Your approval above all else.

Through the gentle wisdom of St. Francis de Sales,

teach me to remain firm in goodness, peaceful in misunderstanding,

and humble in both praise and reproach.

May every unjust word shape me, not harden me,

and lead me closer to Your Heart.

Amen.

• Our Father…., Hail Mary……, Glory be….

• Novena Prayer to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

• St. Francis de Sales… Pray for us.

• Hymn to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

Day-4 (18/1): Do not Judge and You shall not be judged – Leave Judgements to God

The theme for today’s Novena is, do not Judge and You shall not be judged - Leave Judgements to God. In our daily interactions, within families, religious communities, parishes, workplaces, and society, we often slip into judging others without realizing it. Judging comes to all of us so spontaneously. A single action, a passing remark, or an incomplete piece of information becomes enough for us to form opinions, conclusions, and labels. Many of these judgments are not spoken aloud, yet they silently shape our attitudes, relationships, and behaviour.

Rash judgment quietly damages communion. It breeds suspicion, distances hearts, and poisons charity. It makes us harsh with others and indulgent with ourselves. St. Francis de Sales, with deep psychological insight and evangelical gentleness, reminds us that judging others is not only unjust but spiritually dangerous, because it places us in a role that belongs to God alone.

Scripture Reading: Luke 6:37–38

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

Teachings of St. Francis de Sales: based on IDL.III.28

(Read slowly, after each thought, pause briefly for interior reflection.)

Ø  A Just Soul Does Not Rush to Judge: St. Francis de Sales begins with a fundamental principle of Christian wisdom: “A just person normally does not quickly jump into judging others. When neither the fact nor the intention can be verified, they leave it to God to judge.”

Ø  Rash judgment arises when we assume knowledge that we do not possess. Human actions are complex, shaped by hidden intentions, inner struggles, and circumstances unknown to others. When facts and intentions are unclear, the most just and humble response is to refrain from judging and entrust the matter to God.

Ø  To illustrate this wisdom, St. Francis presents a profoundly moving biblical example. When the Virgin Mary was found to be with child while still engaged to St. Joseph, Joseph knew the situation fully and had sufficient legal and social grounds to judge her. Yet he chose otherwise.

Ø  St. Francis writes:

“Because on the one hand he saw her entirely holy, pure, and all angelic, he could not believe that she had conceived in an unlawful manner.”

And yet, unable to understand the mystery, Joseph did not accuse, condemn, or expose her. Instead, “While he decided to leave her, he also left the judgment to God.”

Here St. Joseph becomes a model of reverent restraint, showing us that holiness is often revealed not by speaking, but by silence filled with trust.

Ø  From this example, St. Francis draws one of his most celebrated principles of charity:

Ø  When you judge “Judge, therefore, in favour of our neighbour as far as it is possible. If an action were to have a hundred faces, we must look at the most beautiful.”

Ø  He gently invites us to train our eyes and hearts to seek goodness first. Just as in a garden our attention naturally rests on the most beautiful flower, so too in human relationships we must choose to focus on virtues rather than faults. Such a choice does not deny reality, but protects relationships, nurtures peace, and keeps the heart free from bitterness.

Ø  St. Francis then teaches that people who rarely judge rashly are those who cultivate a sensitive conscience. He offers a beautiful image:

Ø  “The bees, seeing mist or cloudy weather, go back to their hives to prepare honey. So too the thoughts of good persons do not judge confused objects, situations, or the hasty actions of neighbours. Rather, they withdraw into their hearts to prepare good resolutions for their own improvement.”

Ø  Instead of scrutinizing others, the spiritually mature person turns inward examining their own life, intentions, and need for growth.

Ø  “It is the preoccupation of an idle person to be busy scrutinizing the lives of others all the time.” True spiritual work begins within, not in analysing the faults of others.

Ø  Lastly St. Francis recognizes that certain professions and responsibilities require judgment such as judges, leaders, formators, and authorities. However, even here he insists that judgment must be exercised:

o   With love, with sincerity, and with a pure and compassionate conscience. He firmly warns that judging a person based on a single action, without context or mercy, is unjust and destructive.

Resolution: Resolve to leave Judgements to God. Do not judge and you shall not be judged.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus,

You alone know the human heart.

Free me from the habit of judging others

and from the pride that places me above my neighbour.

Teach me humility, compassion, and silence where needed.

Through the gentle wisdom of St. Francis de Sales,

help me to choose charity over criticism

and mercy over judgment. Amen.

• Our Father…., Hail Mary……, Glory be….

• Novena Prayer to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

• St. Francis de Sales… Pray for us.

• Hymn to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

Day-5 (19/1): Gentleness, the Antidote to Anger - “Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”

The theme for today’s Novena is Gentleness, the Antidote to Anger - “Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”

In today’s fast-paced world, anger and impatience have quietly become part of everyday life. Almost all of us, in one way or another, are victims of anger, sometimes openly expressed, at other times silently carried within. We live in an age where no one seems to have time to be patient: patience with people, patience with situations, patience even with ourselves. Pressures at work, tensions in families and communities, constant demands, and unmet expectations easily push us into irritation, frustration, and outbursts of anger.

Many of us battle anger not because we are bad or ill-intentioned, but because we are tired, wounded, misunderstood, or overwhelmed. Yet anger, when allowed to grow unchecked, slowly robs us of peace, damages relationships, and clouds our judgment. It enters quietly as a small reaction, but if entertained, it soon takes control of the heart.

St. Francis de Sales, with remarkable realism and tenderness, knew this human struggle well. He does not deny the reality of anger, nor does he shame us for feeling it. Instead, he offers us a gentle yet powerful remedy: gentleness. For him, gentleness is not weakness or passivity; it is true strength, the strength that governs the heart, calms the mind, and preserves peace. In a world that glorifies harshness and reaction, St. Francis teaches us that nothing conquers anger more effectively than gentleness, and nothing pleases God more than a heart that chooses calm, patience, and love over violence of words and emotions.

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:26–27, 31–32

“Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.

Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

Teachings of St. Francis de Sales based on IDL.III.8,9

(Read slowly; after each thought, pause briefly)

Ø  Gentleness is God’s preferred way

“The rivers flowing gently through the    plains carry   along   large    boats   of rich merchandise. Rains   falling gently on fields make them    plentiful in grass and grain. But streams and rivers with strong currents rush through the land, ruin their neighbourhood and are useless for navigation.”

“Likewise heavy showers and tempests ravage fields and meadows.”

St. Francis explains that violence, rigidity, and harshness, destroy rather than nourish the soul. (IDL, III, 9)

Ø  Be gentle especially with yourself

“We must have a very peaceful, calm yet firm displeasure over our faults.”

“When our heart has committed some fault, we must correct it with gentle, calm remonstrance, with more compassion than anger against it.”

“Thus the repentance it will form will sink in much more deeply than a fretful, angry, stormy repentance.”

Harsh self-condemnation creates restlessness and discouragement, not conversion. (IDL, III, 9)

Ø  Anger grows if we negotiate with it

“If once our anger can gain the night and the sun sets over it, it nourishes itself on a thousand false pretexts.”

“No angry person ever thinks his or her anger unjust.”

“Anger enters as a little shoot, but in no time it becomes a tree.”

Therefore, anger must be resisted immediately, not entertained. (IDL, III, 8)

Ø  Gentleness heals anger quickly

“Fresh wounds are easily healed.”

“So also it is a good remedy against anger to correct it instantly through a contrary act of gentleness.”

“As soon as you perceive that you have acted with anger, make reparation by a prompt act of gentleness toward the same person.”

Delay allows resentment to harden into bitterness. (IDL, III, 8)

Ø  Gentleness is more powerful than force

“One kind word wins more willing service than a hundred harsh orders or stern reproofs.” “No one accepts corrections given in anger, even if they are reasonable.” True authority and influence are born from gentleness, not intimidation.

“Nothing calms down an angry elephant so quickly as the sight of a little lamb.”

St. Francis invites us to place before our inner anger the image of Christ, the Lamb of God, whose mercy toward us becomes the strength to be patient and forgiving toward others.

By choosing gentleness promptly, consciously, and repeatedly we protect our hearts from bitterness and our relationships from damage. Gentleness is not passivity; it is the disciplined choice to respond from love rather than reaction. It keeps the soul free, serene, and open to God’s grace.

Resolution: Resolve to be Gentle for nothing is so strong as gentleness and nothing so gentle as real strength.

Prayer

Loving and Gentle God,

You know how quickly anger rises within my heart.

Teach me the wisdom of gentleness and the courage of patience.

When irritation stirs within me,

remind me of Your mercy and the meekness of Your Son.

Through the gentle guidance of St. Francis de Sales,

shape my heart into an instrument of peace,

that I may live with serenity and love.

Amen.

• Our Father…., Hail Mary……, Glory be….

• Novena Prayer to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

• St. Francis de Sales… Pray for us.

• Hymn to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

Day-6 (20/1):  The Power of Spiritual Direction and Confession – Movement from Sinful to Saved

The theme for today’s novena is, The Power of Spiritual Direction and Confession – Movement from Sinful to Saved. The Sacrament of Confession and the grace of spiritual direction are among the greatest gifts Christ has given to His Church. They are not merely rituals for the weak or remedies only for grave sinners, but living encounters with God’s mercy, meant to heal, guide, and continually renew the soul.

Yet, in today’s fast-paced and noisy world, even priests, religious, and committed lay faithful can slowly grow cold toward this sacrament. Busy schedules, self-reliance, fear of vulnerability, routine spirituality, or the mind-set that “I can manage on my own”, I will confess my sins directly to God, etc., often replace humble self-examination and regular confession. Over time, the soul becomes tired, mechanical, and less sensitive to grace, not because God withdraws His mercy, but because we stop opening our hearts to receive it.

St. Francis de Sales, with his deep pastoral wisdom, strongly reminds us that the soul cannot remain healthy without regular interior cleansing. Just as the body needs care and medicine, the heart needs confession, guidance, and obedience to God’s loving direction. Confession and spiritual direction are not burdens; they are paths to freedom, healing, and renewed fervour.

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:9-14

“But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me… Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?’ So he turned and went off in a rage.

But his servants approached and said to him, ‘Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when he says to you, “Wash, and be clean”?’

So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan… and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy.”

Teachings of St. Francis de Sales:

(after each thought pause a moment and then read the next)

Ø  Movement from Shame to Salvation:

“The sting of the scorpion is poisonous when it does so. But the same venom of the scorpion, when extracted and made into an oil, becomes a powerful remedy against its own sting. Similarly, sin is shameful only at the time we commit it. Changed into confession and repentance, it is honourable and brings salvation.”

“Contrition and confession are so beautiful and of such fragrance that they remove the ugliness of sin and dispel its stench.” (IDL, I,19).

Ø  God loves a contrite Heart: “In Luke 7:36–50, Simon the Pharisee focused on how bad a sinner the woman was who wiped the feet of Jesus with her tears and perfume.”

“But our Lord rebuked Simon and spoke only of the perfume she poured out and of the greatness of her charity.”

“The Lord looks only at our contrite heart and wants to fill it with His abundant grace.” (IDL, I, 19)

Ø  And St. Francis de sales give a valid explanation for those of us who think why not directly confess to God and why to go to a confessor.

True, at times the counsels offered (or even the penance) may not seem to be of much use or relevant to our reasons and logic. But when done in good faith and obedience great rewards flow to us. God blesses us.

St. Francis quotes this beautiful incident from the Bible to make this point clear to us. (2 Kings 5:9–14). Naaman the king being directed by Elisha the prophet to dip in the Jordan seven times…

“But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?’ So he turned and went off in a rage.”

“Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?’

How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

“So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.” (IDL, IV,14)

Ø  Therefore, “Go to your confessor. Open your heart fully to him, making him see all your interior dispositions.”

“Follow with great simplicity and humility the advice of the confessor or spiritual director.”

“God, who loves obedience very much, often renders very profitable counsels which we accept from others, especially from spiritual directors / confessors.” (IDL, IV,14)

Resolution: Resolve to review our hearts through Confession and move away from slavery of sin to being saved by the saviour.

Prayer:

Loving and Merciful God,

You know the hidden corners of my heart

and the burdens I carry within.

Give me the humility to open myself fully to Your mercy

and the courage to trust the guidance You provide through Your Church.

Through the gentle wisdom of St. Francis de Sales,

teach me to love the Sacrament of Confession,

to welcome correction,

and to allow Your grace to renew my spirit.

Cleanse my heart, restore my joy,

and help me walk again in freedom and peace.

Amen.

• Our Father…., Hail Mary……, Glory be….

• Novena Prayer to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

• St. Francis de Sales… Pray for us.

• Hymn to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

Day-7 (21/1): Persevering amidst Trials and Temptations – God’s grace never abandons us; God does not ask us to carry that which is not in our capacity.

Our theme for today’s Novena is “Persevering amidst Trials and Temptations – God’s grace never abandons us; God does not ask us to carry that which is not in our capacity.”

In the face of trials, temptations, prolonged struggles, or repeated failures, our hearts grow weary. We begin with courage and trust, but as time passes, discouragement sets in. We ask painful questions: Where is God? Why is He silent? Why does this struggle continue?

Often, we imagine that faith should remove all suffering. When it does not, we think something is wrong with us or with God.

St. Francis de Sales gently corrects this misunderstanding. He teaches us that God’s grace never abandons us and God does not ask us to carry that which is not in our capacity but that God sometimes allows us to struggle within our capacity so that we may grow stronger, more mature, and more deeply rooted in faith.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:13

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Teachings of St. Francis de Sales:

(after each thought pause a moment and then read the next)

Ø  St. Francis de Sales explains God’s manner of guiding us through trials with a tender image: A gentle mother leads her little child all along. At times she helps, at times she holds back her help. She lets the child take a few steps on its own where the path is safe and level. Sometimes she takes the child by the hand and holds steady. At other times, she takes the child into her arms and carries it. In the same way, our Lord has a constant care over His children. He enables them to walk before Him, stretches out His hands in difficulties, and Himself bears and carries them in hardships that He considers unbearable for them. (TLG III, 4, p. 158).

Ø  St. Francis then recalls the experience of St. Antony the Hermit, who endured a long and painful temptation:

Once when St Anthony was faced with a terrible temptation, he endured it for a long time with incredible pain and torments. Finally, one day he received a certain light from the roof of his cell in which he used to stay, he realised it as God’s intervention and experienced light, peace and relief from the trial he was facing. After which breathing a deep sigh of relief he exclaimed, ‘where were you oh good Jesus, where were you? Why did you not come to my aid earlier to deliver me from my pain?

To which instantly during this divine experience, he received a response, “Antony I was always there by your side but waited for the outcome of your struggle. Since you have been brave and valiant I will always help you. But it is herein consists the bravery and courage of a great spiritual Soldier like you. Thereafter, in such circumstances St. Antony began to sing the Psalm 118.7, “The lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.” (TLG III, 3, P.157)

Ø  St. Francis de sales teaches us that God does not ask us to carry that which is not in our capacity. Quoting the healing account of the Paralytic man from the Gospel of John 05.14. He observes:

We should not think that Jesus who said to the paralytic, go, do not sin any more (Jn 5:14) did not also give him power to avoid doing what he was forbidden. Certainly, God would never urge the faithful to persevere, unless he were ready to give them the power to do so. (TLG III, 4)

In other words, how would Jesus who healed this man, laying besides the pool for 38 years as a Paralytic, (having no one to assist him get inside the pool to be healed) would command him to sin no more, if it were not in his capacity. Jesus who acted with empathy towards his helplessness would not command him to do something that’s not possible for him to do if it were not possible for him to do. God does not ask us to carry that which is not in our capacity.

Therefore, we should place all our hope in God, who will bring to perfection the work of salvation that he has begun in us. Provided we trust in His grace that He will never ask me to carry that which is not in my capacity. If He has asked me then He has found me capable, He trusts me and that there surely will follow a reward greater than the risk and power greater than the pain.

Resolution: Resolve to Trust in the Providence of God in all circumstances. God’s grace never abandons us; God does not ask us to carry that which is not in our capacity.

Prayer:

Faithful and loving God,

when trials discourage my heart and temptations weaken my resolve,

help me remember that You are always near.

Give me the grace to persevere with trust, patience, and hope.

Through the gentle wisdom of St. Francis de Sales,

teach me to believe that You never let go of Your children.

Amen.

• Our Father…., Hail Mary……, Glory be….

• Novena Prayer to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

• St. Francis de Sales… Pray for us.

• Hymn to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

Day-8 (22/1): ‘Trusting in the Providence of God’ - peace is not found in understanding everything, but in trusting the One who understands everything.

Our theme for today’s Novena is, “The Providence of God is Beyond Our Reason” - Trusting God Through Loving Surrender.

In our daily lives, we often ask why.

Why did this happen to me?

Why did God allow this suffering?

Why did my plans fail despite my best efforts?

Why this appointment?

Why this disappointment! etc.

The human heart naturally seeks explanations, clarity, and control. Yet there are moments when life unfolds in ways that surpass our understanding. When answers do not come, faith is tested. In such moments, anxiety, fear, criticism, blame and frustration easily enter the heart.

St. Francis de Sales gently teaches us that peace is not found in understanding everything, but in trusting the One who understands everything. God’s providence is not absent when it is

hidden. On the contrary, it is most active precisely when it is least understood.

Scripture Reading: Romans 11:33–36

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” 

“Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Teachings of St. Francis de Sales:

(after each thought pause a moment and then read the next)

St. Francis says, the Providence of God is so beyond our reasons that we must avoid all curiosity and humbly accept God’s wisest Providence.

Ø  The human mind is so weak that when it wants to examine too curiously the causes and reasons of the divine will / providence it gets puzzled. It entangles itself in the nets of a thousand difficulties from which it cannot afterwards free itself.

Ø  He likens our mind to smoke, which becomes fainter as it rises and as it becomes fainter it disappears. By our efforts to raise our reasoning high into divine things from curiosity we become futile in our thinking (Rom 1:21). Instead of coming to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4), we fall into the folly of our vanity.

Ø  “We are like those who are troubled by giddiness. It seems to them that everything around them is turning upside down, though it is their brain and imagination which turn and not the things. In the same way, meeting with certain events whose causes are unknown to us, it seems to us that the things of this world are governed without purpose, because we do not know about it.

Ø  He reminds us, when the supreme court pronounces certain provisions / judgements we accept them without much reasoning because, ‘the supreme court has decreed it’. St. Francis points out here, ‘We do this in spite of knowing that this earthly court and rulers are not all perfect, who are often corrupt’. If so, he wonders and calls our attention to realise: How well should we pledge our surrender and accept the Providence of God, ‘WHO IS ALL PERFECT, ALL WISE, ALL POWERFUL AND ALL KNOWING than any earthly leaders!

Ø  St. Francis says, this is precisely why even the most holy apostle St. Paul did not dare to inquire about the reasons behind the Providence of God but rather testified to the insufficiency of our understanding in this matter when he cried out, ‘Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! (Rom 11:33). (TLG. IV. CH. 07)

Ø  He quotes from St. Gregory of Nazianzus, “The craftsman is not without knowledge of his art, even though we are ignorant of it. Even so the things of this world are certainly not made carelessly and thoughtlessly, though we do not know their reasons.”

“If we enter a clockmaker’s shop we sometimes find a clock no bigger than an orange which yet has in it a hundred or two hundred parts. Of these, some serve to show the time, others to strike the hours and to set off the morning alarm. We shall see in it little wheels, some going to the right and others to the left, some turning at the top and others below. We shall see the pendulum which with measured beats moves evenly from side to side. We wonder how art was able to join such a great number of very small parts one to the other with a correspondence so exact. We do not know what each part does, nor why it is made as it is, unless the craftsman tells us. We know only in general that all the parts help to show the time or to strike the hour.

Similarly, we see in this way the universe, and especially human nature, as a clock made up of such a great variety of actions and movements that we cannot prevent ourselves from being astonished. We know in general that these parts, varied in so many kinds, all serve either to show as on a watch the most holy justice of God or to make known the triumphant mercy of his goodness by a symphony of praise. But we cannot understand in detail the function of each part, how it is ordered to the common purpose or why it is made in a particular way, unless the supreme craftsman makes it known to us. He does not disclose to us his art so that we admire it with greater reverence until in Heaven he can delight us with the sweetness of his wisdom. There in the fullness of his love He will reveal to us the reasons, means and motives of all that has taken place in this world for the benefit of our eternal salvation. (TLG. IV. CH. 08.P.215)

Ø  Let us believe then that since God is the maker and Father of all things, he also takes care of everything by his providence which embraces and sustains the entire mechanism of creation. Let us believe especially that he watches over the affairs of those of us who know him, though our life is disturbed by so many conflicting circumstances. We may not know the reason why certain things happen to us, but perhaps, not being able to obtain this knowledge, we may better admire God’s sovereign purpose which surpasses all things. Because, with us as humans, what is easily known is easily despised. But that which surpasses the highest powers of our spirit, the more difficult it is to be understood, the more also it arouses a great admiration in us.

Ø  Therefore, whatever happens, let us exclaim, but let us exclaim with a heart full of love towards the most wise, the most powerful and most kind providence of our eternal Father: Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God

Ø  Ah, what can we fear, or rather what should we not hope for, being the children of a Father so rich in goodness! (TLG. IV. CH.08. p.216.)

Resolution: Resolve to Trust in God in all circumstances. Peace is not found in understanding everything, but in trusting the One who understands everything.

Prayer:

Loving Father,

when there are so many ‘whys’ in my life,

help me be wise to trust You are always by my side,

Through the gentle wisdom of St. Francis de Sales,

grant me a peaceful heart that rests in Your providence.

Amen.

• Our Father…., Hail Mary……, Glory be….

• Novena Prayer to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

• St. Francis de Sales… Pray for us.

• Hymn to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

Day-9 (23/1): We are worthy of eternity, why choose less! - Choosing Spiritual Delights over Worldly Pleasures

Our Theme for today’s Novena is ‘We are worthy of eternity, why choose less!’- Choosing Spiritual Delights over Worldly Pleasures.

We live in a world that constantly invites us to consume, enjoy, and indulge. Comfort, pleasure, and instant gratification are often presented as signs of a successful and happy life. Yet many people, even while surrounded by abundance, experience an inner emptiness. The soul, created for God, quietly suffers when it is fed only with earthly pleasures. St. Francis de Sales gently reminds us that not every delight nourishes the heart, and that excessive attachment to worldly pleasures dulls our taste for God.

Scripture Reading: 1 John 2:15-17

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world, for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God abide forever.”

Teachings of St. Francis de Sales:

(after each thought pause a moment and then read the next)

Ø  According to an ancient proverb St. Francis de Sales says, “The doves that have overeaten find cherries bitter. So also those who have overeaten and overfed by worldly pleasures develop a distaste for spiritual delights and they are not able to receive spiritual delights.” Consequently, whatever graces God has filled within such a soul will also be lost, and the soul will be deprived of all the graces in store as well. (IDL IV, 15)

Ø  Nothing that is corrupt can attract honey bees. They rest only on flowers. In the same way our heart cannot be at rest except in God alone. No creature can satisfy it. (IDL V, 10,)

Ø  “Honey Bees detest all artificial smells; so also the delights of the Holy Spirit are incompatible with the artificial delights of the world.” (IDL IV, 14,)

Ø  SFS Exhorts us we must motivate our soul by constantly feeding into our mind and heart this beautiful assurance that insures us for heaven.

“Oh my beautiful soul, you can know and desire God, why should you be occupied with something less? You can claim eternity, why are you then engrossed in fleeting moments of time? It was one of the regrets of the prodigal son that when he could have lived delightfully, eating at his father’s table, he was eating loathsomely at that of pigs (Lk. 15:16 17).

When you are able to enjoy God, what wretchedness to be satisfied with less than God! Lift high your heart by means of this reflection. Realize that you are eternal and worthy of eternity. Be filled with courage to reach this end.” (IDL. V.10).

St. Francis de Sales does not condemn joy or human happiness; rather, he warns us about disordered attachment. When worldly pleasures dominate our hearts, they crowd out the gentle workings of the Holy Spirit. Like the dove that can no longer enjoy simple fruit, the soul weighed down by excess loses its sensitivity to God’s grace.

True spiritual joy is subtle, peaceful, and lasting. It requires an interior freedom that allows God to act within us. As St. Augustine wisely observed, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Only when the soul is nourished by God’s love does it rediscover its true delight.

Resolution: Resolve to revolve around God. We are worthy of eternity, why choose less!

Prayer:

Loving God,

purify my heart from attachments that dull my love for You.

Teach me to choose what truly nourishes my soul.

Through the gentle guidance of St. Francis de Sales,

help me delight in Your love above all things.

Amen.

 Our Father…., Hail Mary……, Glory be….

• Novena Prayer to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

• St. Francis de Sales… Pray for us.

• Hymn to St. Francis de Sales (see the end of this page)

HYMN TO ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

While Heaven Proclaims O Francis

While heaven proclaims O Francis,

Thy glory fair and bright,

Our earthly choirs are chanting,

Thy praise in festive hymns

Thou glory of the Church.

In thy eternal joy,

O listen to our prayers,

That we may follow thee.

In youthful strength and vigour,

Thou spurnest earthly joys,

And rushest holy warrior,

To join the hosts of Christ.

Thy heart is brave and mighty,

In fighting heresies

And dreaded are thy triumphs

By mankind’s hellish foes

Thou bringest back as Bishop

The sheep that went astray

Thus of the perfect shepherd

Thou art the most accurate type.

PRAYER TO ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

Dear St. 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. / 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 our cheerful service of others.

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

Dear St. Francis/, while on earth /you were always ready to help/ those in need/. Come to our aid/ and obtain for us from God/, through the intercession of Our Lady/, the special grace for which we now pray. (Pause)

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

Amen.

Let us pray:

O God who for the salvation of souls, was pleased that blessed Francis, your confessor and bishop become all to all men, mercifully grant that being plentifully enriched with the sweetness of your charity, by the help of his merits, we may obtain life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.