God-centered relationships

Bond of Perfection 

Chapter-by-Chapter

Group Three:
Brian Rebholtz
Tresphord Chisanga
Sung Han Lee

What Struck Us/What was New?

Wendy Wright did a good job cutting through the hagiography of Jane de Chantal in order to show the effect of St. Francis de Sales death in her spiritual life. This allowed us to see deep grieving and mourning within the context of a saintly life, rather than a detached coolness and supernatural aridity.

We were dismayed at the description of Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal’s last conference. Francis’ decision not to allow Jane discuss her matters of conscience seemed like a tragic pastoral oversight. We were not convinced by Wright’s attempt to map this action to Jane’s need for further spiritual growth and separation.

The mere fact that correspondence defined there relationship is amazing. Francis and Jane went three years without seeing each other, and yet their relationship flourished.

We were amused by the politics of the Visitation Congregation. Although W. Wright does not spend too much time on this, she does mention that Jane and Francis wrestled with the fact that at least one rich woman was placed in the congregation by her family regardless of vocation or inclination. Moreover, because of her wealth she was given the status of “foundress” and entitled to special treatment. This shows that even though two spiritual masters were at the helm of the Congregation of the Visitation, the community still had to deal with human failing and self-centeredness on a daily basis!

We notice that there is a tension between Francis’ piety and Jane’s piety. Jane always longed for more contemplative prayer and more interior silence, whereas Francis always directed his prayer life into imagery and the created world. Jane and Francis never truly reconcile this point of debate.

What was Confirmed?

The possibility of relationships centered on God. Tresphord was especially intrigued by the idea that any relationship can benefit by becoming God-centered, not just saintly relationships. Sung Han was interested in whether or not the Korean Evangelical Holiness Church could benefit from a stronger emphasis on finding God in all relationships and less emphasis on the relational hierarchy so ingrained in Korean culture.

Spiritual Parenthood. St. Jane de Chantal used numerous images and metaphors taken from her experience as a mother. This was refreshing for us, and it suggested that the life of parenthood was actually a valid and useful model for the spiritual life, rather than something to be discarded and left behind by those who are “serious” about spirituality.

Submitted by Brian Rebholtz
Photo by Joe Boenzi: Salesians scholars Grace McCormack, Roberta Brown, Wendy Wright