THE MSFS PERSONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTORY

1. THE MSFS PERSONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTORY (Adapted version for the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales/Fransalian Associates)

2. The Spiritual Directory is a great help to us to grow in holiness by doing God’s will in the present moment promptly, carefully and frequently. Many people who have followed Salesian spiritual directory while being academicians, business-people, farmers, housewives and office-goers, and religious have affirmed the double effect of it in their lives: namely focused and successful attention to their works, while enjoying profoundest peace, joy and presence of God in their lives. Saint Francis de Sales gently encourages us saying: “God will lead us all to perfection, one step at a time.” It is a simple, practical and down-to-earth programme, to help a person to live in the world without being of the world. It is a daily discipline, regularity, resolve and artful skill. It is a spiritual life style of God working in us and we in God: • EXPLANATION WHAT IS SPIRITUAL DIRECTORY? “God will work with you, in you and for you, and your work will be followed by consolation” (St Francis de Sales)

3. 2. To commit oneself to responsibilities in the world, while engrossed in God, doing His will To inculcate attitudes necessary to embody the humble, gentle love of neighbor, through examined and reflected self-awareness, by living in the transforming presence of God, by making an evangelical response of the heart to the present moment 3. To live a life of virtue and grow in holiness and perfection To live a life of constant vigorous virtues, stay away from sin and all that is not God and to soar into the wide-open skies of holiness Thus, remaining refreshingly renewed in the spirit of God everyday of our lives. “Forget all that is not of God and remain entirely at peace under the guidance of God: this is the height of virtue.” • To live in the presence of God all the time • To assist a person to develop interior attitudes necessary in order to recognize the presence of God in all things, persons, events and circumstances • “Walk always near to God, for the gentleness of his shadow is better than the brightness of the sun.” “When you are physically or mentally occupied while fulfilling the duties of your state in life, renew as far as possible, again and again, your “Yes” to the will of God.” GOALS OF THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTORY

4. We live in a highly secularized world, with developments that bring more comfort, instant communication and information and connectivity, and progress that can make man so self-sufficient materially that he can forget God, or make Him a convenience when needed. There is danger for man to displace God from the secular. St Francis de Sales reminds us our existential situation and our heavenly ambition: “Ostriches never fly, hens fly only awkwardly, quite low and rarely, but eagles, doves, and swallows fly often, swiftly and very high. Therefore, the discipline and exercises of the Directory will help the MSFS/Associates to face this reality and make use of the developing reality as a means to come closer to God. The directory will be the antidote to dichotomized life and un-integrated life, which adversely affects our witness in ministry. WHY IS THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTORY AS PROPOSED BY ST FRANCIS DE SALES, THE NEED OF THE HOUR FOR MSFS/ ASSOCIATES? In the same way sinners do not fly towards God but rather all their movements are on the earth and for the things of the earth. People who are good, but have not yet progressed to devotion, fly towards God by their good deeds but rarely, slowly and with difficulty. Persons who are devout fly to God frequently, promptly and freely.”

5. 4. The MSFS directory will serve as the simple and practical personal guide in Salesian Spirituality for us and for our associates. 3. The Spiritual Directory helps us see OURSELVES and OTHERS and ENTIRE CREATION through the mind, heart and eyes of God, therefore to treat each other, ourselves and creation with profound respect, reverence in the ups and downs of daily living. “Love is the soul of our life. To love is the law of our being. The quality of our life depends on the quality of our love” • Our collective challenge is how to ACCEPT, INTERNALIZE AND PURSUE divine virtues and values, while engaged in our responsibilities, limitations and possibilities of human existence.

6. Article 1 RISING AND MORNING EXERCISES Beg for Blessings “Father, bless me with the Blessing of Your Holy Spirit and in Him all blessings I need to live today for you.” Greet our Lady and ask her blessings. “Hail Mary, Mother of Jesus and my Mother guide me to your Son Jesus” or “Mother of Compassion, give me a compassionate heart like that of Jesus” Greet Guardian angels “My Dear Guardian angel, warn me and protect me from harm and danger” Morning Exercises: Adoration of the Lord from the depths of one’s being: “God my Creator, I adore you” Thanking him for all his benefits. “Thank you Father for this new day” Offering Him: heart, affections, resolutions, and whole being. “Father, through your Son Jesus I offer you my total self, my desires and all my undertakings for your glory” Greet Holy Patron/s “St Francis de Sales, our dear Patron, pray for me and give me your spirit of … (mention the Salesian virtue that you have decided to practice that week/month/year) While Dressing Make an appropriate prayer: “Lord put on me the cloak of innocence and the robe of love” or “Lord let me not appear before you stripped of good works.” On rising we are to direct the mind completely to God and holy thought: with Scriptural quotes; Holy Aspirations. Rise on a Positive note. Recall to mind the words of St Francis de Sales “Rising is like the Resurrection”. “The same everlasting Father, who cares for you today, will care for tomorrow and every day. Either he will carry you in his arms or give you unfailing strength to bear it.” All the exercises are done while engaged in the morning chores and routine. This is followed by the Angelus II. MSFS PERSONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTORY PROPER

7. Article 2 DIRECTION OF INTENTION Direction of intention should be done in big and small and seemingly insignificant, agreeable and not agreeable actions like drinking, eating, resting recreating. The effects of direction of intention is that it helps us to bear with peace and serenity all that pain and suffering as coming from the fatherly hand of God. Before beginning any specific new action/s of the day, ask God ‘s grace: OFFER to God all that you will do, BE pleasing to Him, and WORK for his glory Having got yourself ready for your next task, make a General Direction of Intention, and resolve to do whatever you do to please God and for His glory. “All for you, Lord, all for you. Everything I do, may it please you. I seek your glory alone. In all that I do, I want nothing but your will alone.” You may repeat the afore mentioned prayer “All for you, Lord, all for you. Everything I do may please you. I seek your glory alone. In all that I do, I want nothing but your will alone.”

8. Preparation of the Day Entrustment (Recommendation) Entrust all the concerns and preparation into the hands of God’s eternal goodness and say: Article 3 PREPARATION FOR THE DAY AND ENTRUSTMENT Resolve: Make conscious decision to do your level best to follow God’s will today, especially as it may be revealed in the circumstances, people and events that come your way. Plan of Action: Look at your calendar. Consider how you can make time for yourself and for God even in the midst of all that you will be doing today. I want one thing from the Lord and I will ask you again and again: That I may faithfully carry out your loving will all the days of my life. Foresight: This is a preview or conjecture of all that could happen during the course of the day. With God’s grace the person anticipates occasions, which could take him by surprise.

9. Meditation In the busy world today making time for silence, meditation, and daily readings and prayer is difficult but necessary. For the religious, the serious practice of meditation is a core value of his vocation. It is non-negotiable. As our founder, Fr. Mermier says that the ministry of one who does not pray becomes harmful and detrimental to the mission. If we can make time to exercise, to stay physically strong and mentally alert, then all the more we should take time to exercise to stay spiritually strong. “He who prays well is so absorbed with God that he does not know he is praying”. “Go to prayer in faith. Remain there in hope. Go out in love.” The Associates of MSFS will benefit immensely when they devote 15 minutes daily to the practice of Meditation as proposed by St Francis de Sales in The Introduction to Devout Life. Slowly and progressively their vocation permitting, they can increase the time to 30 minutes daily. ARTICLE 4 MEDITATION, LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, WALKING WITH MARY

10. Morning time is better for meditation: “If possible do it in the earlier part of the morning, as your mind will be less distracted, and more fresh from the night’s rest.” Choose a definite time: half-hour, or 45 minutes, or one hour and be consistently faithful to it. Beginners are advised half hour. Those advanced in the exercise of spiritual directory are encouraged to pray for 45 minutes or one hour. Choose a definite place for your meditation. Choose as far as possible a chapel or a church when you are in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and make your meditation. There “neither father, nor mother, nor wife, nor husband, nor anyone else will prevent you from staying there for an hour.” For meditation, we must follow the instructions of St Francis de Sales and the method he has proposed in Introduction to Devout Life. The essentials of Salesian Meditation are: Reflection/s Using The Head (mind); Affections of the Heart (Using the Heart). Resolutions (using the “Hands”(deeds) The Three Hs. Meditation is conversation or communion with one whom we love. It is loving God. Nearness, closeness, communion, dialogue, and transformation are the inner dynamics of genuine prayer. This does not prevent us to follow any other method provided it is in harmony with the Salesian outlook.

11. “Devotion which is true hinders nothing, but on the contrary it perfects everything; and that which runs counter to the rightful vocation of anyone is, you may be sure, a dubious devotion... everybody fulfills his special calling better when subject to the influence of devotion: family duties are lighter, married love truer, service to our king more faithful, every kind of occupation more acceptable and better performed where true devotion is the guide.” The spirit of the meditation is carried forward in the following manner: Retreat in the silence of your heart for a few minutes during the day while moving, travelling, between breaks and raise your heart to God with the help of a Scriptural passage or words that you can recall, or a saying of St Francis de Sales taken from the Introduction to Devout Life or The Love of God or The Conferences. Living in the Presence of God Say quietly: O Sweet Jesus, look down on me with merciful eyes. Lord, take away from me anything that might be displeasing in your sight.

12. During the day, be mindful of God’s presence by ejaculatory prayers: By thanking the Lord when something that you thought of turns out as planned. By saying short ejaculatory prayers. St Francis de Sales encourages us “.... go about your affairs, resolved nevertheless to raise your spirit to God, even amidst company.... speaking to Him in the depth of your heart... Make short but fervent aspirations.” Ejaculatory prayers are: “short ardent soaring of the heart”. “Without this exercise contemplative life cannot be well-lived and active life will be lived only badly. Without it relaxation is idleness and work only discomfort. I ask you earnestly to take up this exercise with all your heart and never stop practicing it.” Thus each day will become a continuous prayer: contemplation in action and action in contemplation.

13. Walking with Mary I join with St Francis de Sales to recite “The Memorare”, the prayer dear to his heart: In the evenings or any time of the day when it is possible for me to gather with my family or religious community I recite the Prayer of the Rosary, walking with Mary the way of Redemption. On Saturdays, I recite the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows. Holy Mary pierce me through in my heart each wound renew of my Saviour Crucified.

14. I will gather faithfully with the community at a designated time to pray the Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer. This prayer will be preceded by a personal visit to the Blessed Sacrament of at least 5 minutes to 10 minutes and spiritual orientation. In the intercessions, I will make a list of those whom I should pray for remain connected in prayer: Article 5 THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS AND COMMUNITY PRAYER The Church and its Intentions PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE LITURGYOF THE HOURS IS A SACRED OBLIGATION OF EVERY PRIEST. MSFS ARE CALLED TO BE FAITHFUL TO THIS OBLIGATION. The Congregation and its Intentions: The Superior General, the Provincial, the Province families, the local communities of the Province, the individuals of the Province on their birthdays and feast days, benefactors and collaborators, Congregational events, the confreres departed, students under formation and vocations. Collective Commitment to certain parts of the Holy Hours is another non-negotiable enshrined in our MSFS Constitutions. The World and its Intentions: Events, places, joys and sorrows, successes and failures, poor and the marginalized, persecutors of the faith. People of good will, farmers, teachers, professionals, prisoners, sick, differently gifted.

15. Article 6 THE HOLY EUCHARIST Altar management: As my Personal Preparation, I will be present in the Church at least 10 minutes before the celebration of the Eucharist, live in God’s presence and awareness I will take part in singing and when I cannot take part, I will follow the words of the song and remain united with the praying community. As in charge of the altar, I will ensure that: -The altar is spotlessly clean with clean clothes -The altar is prepared for the celebration of the Eucharist at least half-hour in advance: -The altar linen, purificators, lavabos, are washed regularly and maintained clean. -The reading books are well marked as per the liturgical calendar -The decorations and flowers are changed and renewed when needed. I will put my heart and soul and meaningfulness in every liturgical action and gesture during the Holy Eucharist and as prescribed by the liturgy. I will be attentive and alert and respond to prayers joyfully, humbly and slowly. A witness to the faith and respect to the mysteries that we celebrate. Altar management is a special preparation that every MSFS should undertake before the spiritual preparation for the Eucharist. In a religious community, a confrere is given the specific responsibility to see to the altar management. After the Mass, I will spend 5 to 7 minutes in personal thanksgiving in the Chapel/Church. When pastoral situation demands that I meet the people, I need to return to 5 to 7 minutes of personal thanksgiving after I have completed meeting with them. “The Eucharist is the sun of the spiritual exercises”, center of Christian religion, the heart of devotion and the essence of piety”

16. The MSFS/Associate seeks the mercy and compassion of God in the Holy Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a month and more often when urgency of spiritual situation demands. I seek the absolution from a priest after sufficient preparation, contrition, penance and resolution and with humility, simplicity and openness I seek the joy and freedom of one cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb. “This practice will renew your strength diminished by time, give fervor to your heart, bring fresh greenness to your deliberate decisions and make virtues of your spirit to flower again.” (SFS) In formation houses, there will be a formal time in the time - table for this exercise and if and when necessary conducted with proper guidance. The exercise should not last more than 10 minutes. Mid-day Review of Life: Consider briefly how you have conducted yourself during the morning. If any fault is found then make an act of contrition with a firm purpose of amendment. Recall the Plan of the Day and the other activities in the morning and see if they were done so as to please God. This time can also be used to check on the growth of oneself in a particular virtue that one had planned to practice. Day-end review of life or examination of conscience Thank the Lord for his benefits during the day and for giving all the graces for being faithful to the Plan of the Day and the Direction of Intention. Have a glance through all the activities of the day and see if these were done in keeping with the will of God. Check on the major fault, sin, failure on which your conscience accuses you. Daily Examination of conscience is a very fruitful exercise of preparation for fortnightly/monthly confession of a MSFS/ Associates: Ask God’s mercy and pardon by reciting the “Act of Contrition “ Resolve not to sin again Resolve to do better what you have done well. Recall to mind the particular virtue in which you wanted to grow. Look forward to better ways of practicing that virtue the next day. Examination of conscience To keep ourselves moving in the day in the direction of intention we started off in the morning, there is need for every MSFS/Associate in Salesian tradition to examine his conscience twice a day so that the review of life can help him to re-orient re-direct and focus on it. Immersion into life’s demands can easily get us out of focus, and make us dis-oriented. It does not take too long a time to get ourselves disoriented in life. Hence the Salesian tradition asks for two examination of conscience: one mid-day and the other at the time of retiring to bed.” Article 7 For others who are engaged in various works, and when it is not possible to take a break a silent interior recollection for a few minutes during the work is sufficient to do this simple mid-day review. But to those engaged and when they have time, it is strongly advised that they retire to the chapel and have the mid-day review. “The clock maker makes oils the wheel, the springs and all the moving parts of the clock with fine oil, so that it may run more smoothly and less liable to rust. Similarly, the devout person after the exercising of dismantling of his heart to review it well, must anoint it with the Sacrament of Confession and the Holy Eucharist.” (SFS) REVIEW OF LIFE, RE-ORIENTATION AND FOCUS, SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

17. The MSFS/Associates ensure a simple nourishing meal for the community and present the same in a way that is clean, welcoming and that each person matters. The MSFS/Associates will pause for a very brief moment of silence before praying the “Grace before Meals” The MSFS/Associates appreciate what is set before them and even when the food is not up to the mark. They do not pass comments and give corrections at the table. It is important for MSFS/Associates to eat in an atmosphere of peace, tranquility and gratitude. If a mistake or error in cooking is to be pointed out it will be done after the meal to the concerned person who has prepared the meal. Article 8 MEALS AND RECREATION Meals: Meals are not simply an opportunity to feed our bodies. Meals provide us an opportunity to nourish our relationships with others. Meals give us chance to reconnect with people who mean most to us: family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, confreres, and guests. Meals give us an occasion to thank God who provide us food: the earth, the farmers, the kitchen-staff. Meals remind us to be aware of the poor and commit ourselves to do something very tangible for them. At MSFS table of fellowship, there should not be hurry nor lingering on indefinitely. Given the exigency of the place, work and kitchen staff, each community will have an understanding of the minimum time the community will spend at the table and the maximum when there is a need for the same. The meal will end with a common “Grace after Meals”. There will be a silent pause before reciting the grace before meals and after meals.

18. 3) Lest recreation degenerates into un-charitableness and humor bordering on questionable quality of talk and behavior, every member must ask God interiorly to do that which will contribute to His glory and respect of the other. 4) Recreation must be marked with openness, simplicity, spontaneity and affability. The confreres should not come for recreation with sad, disagreeable countenance. 5) During recreation, there should be an interior check on what one says and does is what God would approve. If not, ask God for immediate pardon and change the course of conversation or action. 7) Members should come for recreation not out of habit or as a matter of form but with preparation of a light positive and appreciative heart and respect and regard to every member of the community. • MSFS will respect the culture and social standards expected of religious people in every country as regards serving of alcohol. The way this respect has to be shown is usually indicated in the Province Statutes. • Recreation of coming together as a community must be fostered once a day for a reasonable time that ministry and engagements allow the MSFS. This was a custom, which was prevalent in the MSFS family for many years. For community building this exercise needs to be restored for a minimum of half hour outside the meal times. 2) It is important that the members interact with each other at their simple and human level by playing simple indoor or outdoor games as a community, and watch the news together on TV and then exchange their views and opinions.

19. 2) At times during the day, I will intensify around myself a few silent moments and try to communicate with God through short ejaculatory prayers or short crisp sayings from the Bible. • Before beginning any work or action, I remain recollected for a few brief seconds and pray interiorly saying: • Speak Lord, your servant is listening • O my God make me worthy to accomplish your Holy Will. • May I be pleasing to you in all that I do 4) I will be silent and recollected before every common prayer, at least 5 minutes before the start. Article 9 SILENCE 5) MSFS are strongly advised to fix a time at night when they retire and before retirement shut out all noise and work and conclude the day making short prayers of Thanksgiving, Offering, and Surrender into God’s hands. 3) Moving from place to place, I will silently question myself and see if I am using time properly or wasting it in doing useless things, doing things that do not matter and that are a means of killing time. I will refocus on the works that I am expected to do and go ahead with confidence and trust in God.

20. Live Jesus! Live Jesus in my thoughts and deeds! Live Jesus in my friendships and relationships! Live Jesus in my prayer, play and study! Live Jesus in my works in mission! Live Jesus in my rest and sleep! Live Jesus, yes, live in every moment of my life! Live Jesus! 4) After supper, there will be an understanding when all recreational activities in the community or personal, will cease. • While resting, the MSFS should make a short prayer of surrendering everything into God’s hand and seeking God’s blessings for a peaceful rest. • “Into your hands Lord I commend my spirit” • “Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened I will give you rest” • “Lord, hide me in the shelter of your wings.” • “Lord, hide me in the hollow of your hands.” 2) A good sleep of 5 hours to six hours needs to be ensured so that awaking not later than 5.30am should be the normal expected routine of a MSFS. Article 10 SLEEP AND REST • Allow sleep to take over in peace and quiet, confident of God’s love and Providence and hopeful of a new dawn of a new day to • “Live Jesus” 5) After night prayers, it is expected of every MSFS to engage in serious work connected with the apostolate. 1) The MSFS values very much the precious advice given by St. Francis de Sales: “early to bed and early to rise is good both for body and the soul” Respecting this advice, MSFS will ensure that as much time as possible of waking hours is dedicated to work pertaining to his duties and apostolate so that the maximum period of the night is used for sufficient rest. Sleep during the day is to be avoided unless illness demands it. An afternoon nap if required should not exceed half-hour. 3) Where night prayers are not in common, the MSFS will make his night prayers in private before the Blessed Sacrament. During this exercise a good review of the day is to be made with repentance and act of contrition. 6) Before retiring, the MSFS will read the readings of the next days liturgy and prepare his points for the meditation. ‘Live Jesus, to whom with the Father and Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever and ever, Amen’