By Fr. Antony Mookenthottam MSFS

(3 April 1978)

The subject matter chosen for the Series is the problems and trials which St. Francis de Sales had to face. There are not many detailed English biographies of St. Francis de Sales available for the use of English speaking confreres. The available biographies do not throw full light on the problems and trials the Saint had to face, especially on the failures of his undertakings. As I was struggling through my thesis, it was often consoling to read how the undertakings of a great Saint could be short - lived or end in failure, or would be realized only in a distant future. It seemed to me then, that a knowledge of the problems, successes and failures of St. Francis could be an encouragement to our confreres struggling against many adverse circumstances in the Missions. So 1 dccided to choose this theme for a series of Pamphlets.

The method followed is the following : The historical background is at first explained or indicated. Then the problem or the crisis with its successful solution or the failure to solve it is explained. Finally, few meditative comments are made on the issue. One may agree or disagree with the comments. After all, each one has his preferences. The indication of the historical context and the explanation of the problem make it possible for each one to make his own meditative application or follow the suggestions indicated. Theoretically, this may appear difficult. But a reading of what follows shows that this method is quite simple.