Blooming Where We Are Planted

Oak tree on St. Benedict the Moor property in Lincolnville section of St. Augustine, Florida.

January 24th is the feast of St. Francis de Sales, a French priest who became Bishop of Geneva and a key figure in the Counter Reformation (the Catholic response to the Protestant Reformation), and who is considered the patron saint of authors and journalists. Born in 1567 in Annecy, France, Francis de Sales was highly educated, spending many years being taught by the Jesuits. He is considered a Doctor of the Church. The essence of his spirituality can be found in the Introduction to the Devout Life, written in 1609.

As Sisters of St. Joseph, our Congregation has a spirituality that is influenced by both St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis de Sales. Our founder, Fr. Jean-Pierre Medaille, was a Jesuit who lived in the 1600s when Salesian spirituality had become popular. This month’s blog will reflect on Salesian spirituality.

North portion of Motherhouse grounds in St. Augustine where St. Joseph Academy was located.

Vatican Council II called all Catholics to holiness. Salesian spirituality is a practical, everyday spirituality for living as we embrace the duties of our state of life. St. Francis de Sales urges us to “bloom where you are planted.” He often uses the images of bees and honey in his writings. The following are some highlights of Salesian spirituality:

• God is love, and all creation is an outpouring of that love

• All creation has been made for Christ, with Christ, and through Christ

• All creation should be treated with respect and care

• Jesus is the model for all fully human living

• Relationships are essential to living a fully human, that is, a holy life

• God’s will is frequently communicated through the events, circumstances, and relationships in which you find yourself

• The “little virtues” of patience, humility, gentleness, simplicity, honesty, and hospitality are powerful means for growing holy

• Intellectual learning, prayerful reflection, social interaction, work, play, and all things creative should be valued as graced by God and viewed as means for growing into a fully alive human person

• Keep things in perspective

• Develop a sense of humor.

Painting of Father Jean-Pierre Medaille, SJ, who founded the Sisters of St. Joseph in Le Puy, France, in 1650, and who wrote 100 Maxims that help summarize our SSJ Ignatian-Salesian spirituality.  

In 1650, the first Sisters of St. Joseph served the needs of the many women and children who were often widowed and orphaned due to the prevalent wars in Europe. In 1866, eight Sisters of St. Joseph came to St. Augustine at the invitation of Bishop Augustin Verot to educate the freed African-American slaves and their children following the Civil War. The Sisters continued to respond to the needs of the Church in Florida, establishing schools, orphanages, hospitals, nursing homes, and other Catholic institutions over time.

Today we are partnering with the Cathedral-Basilica Parish in St. Augustine to establish the St. Joseph Neighborhood Center on the grounds of St. Benedict Church in Lincolnville to serve the needs of working single mothers and their young children. We had served at St. Benedict the Moor School from 1898 to 1964, when it was closed due to de-segregation. For more information on this new mission, see www.sjncfl.org.

On this feast of St. Francis de Sales we encourage all to continue to grow in holiness and “to bloom where you are planted.”

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