Our Lady Queen of Ireland Province (IRL)
The invitation to join with the SDB as they marked the 150th Year of the Salesian Congregation was warmly welcomed by the sisters in our province. The day was well attended and included representatives of all the Salesian family. The topic "Salesian Spirituality Today" and the date, feast of St Francis de Sales, were both well chosen for the celebration.
Dr. Wendy M. Wright, the speaker, is a laywoman steeped in the Salesian spiritual tradition of Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal.
Her presentation was enthusiastic and warm, inspiring us with the spirituality of Francis who believed that the human heart was made to beat in rhythm with God's heart. The Salesian message came alive as she focused on the qualities of the heart - kindness, warmth, and love. She quoted St. Francis de Sales: "Since the heart is the source of all our actions, as the heart is, so are they", and this was the central message of her presentation. The link between the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales and the phrase of Don Bosco: "Education is a matter of the heart" was very clear.
Some quotes of Salesian spirituality that Wendy used in her talk were:
- "We cannot offer God great things but each instant we can offer him little things with great love". Jane de Chantal
- "The heart of Christ bridges God's heart and the human heart".
Francis de Sales
