11 novembre 2005 - Approaching Youth

Introduction to the Devout Life
Part II, Chapters 1-9
English-speaking Group
(Sebastian, Naresh, Selina, John)

In our discussion, Sebastian pointed out that the images used by Francis de Sales to describe the penitent, sin, and virtue were powerful, and even relevant for today. His descriptions of affections of sin can be easily translated as desire and any thing that blocks the soul from full contact with God. The rich imagery outlines a path that God offers the penitent for making return by taking concrete and measurable steps and resolutions. The entire method is gentle and inviting. In this context, fear takes on a personal dimension and becomes a fear of losing the love of Christ so readily and eternally available. In fact, Francis exhorts the sinner not to be afraid and that even the most grievous sins can become a pleasant odor with the beauty of a good confession. This is very relevant for people in all cultures today where there seems to be more fear than invitation when approaching confession.

Sebastian and Naresh commented that in his advice, Francis was not only far ahead of his own time but, in some respects, even exceeds the thinking of our time. Specifically, his affirmation that the things of the world are not in themselves bad and it is only misplaced desire and longing which distorts these things--this is radical thinking for his time and ours! In this manner, we believe that Francis is much more in tune with the individual than with mere regulations and guidelines.

For our application, we see our task as not one of labeling the things and the focus of a youth culture as evil, but our task is to give the young people the skill to examine their own motives and desires. Too often young people see “religion” as a “burden of regulation” rather than an invitation mostly because they have witnessed adults living by proposition rather than by motive and relationship. If we can follow Francis' model, we can invite them to retreat to holiness and wholeness, not as blind denunciation, but fine tuning of their own skills for judging wisely.

For the English-speaking Group
John