Spiritual Life
The Direction of Intention
Spiritual practice · Salesian tradition
The Salesian habit of offering each action to God at the moment of beginning it — a few words, repeated all day, by which ordinary occupations are consciously referred to him and the whole day becomes prayer.
Instructions
Begin with the morning exercise St Francis de Sales prescribes: on waking, adore God, thank him for the night, offer him the whole day, foresee the occasions the day will bring — the difficult meeting, the tempting hour, the person who irritates you — and resolve in advance how you will meet them, asking his grace for each. Then, through the day, before each significant action, pause for the length of a breath and direct it: "Live Jesus!", which is the Salesian watchword, or "My God, I offer you this." Do it before beginning work, before a conversation, before eating, before setting out. Afterwards, thank him briefly for what went well and ask pardon for what did not, without dwelling on either. St Francis adds what he calls spiritual retirement — short deliberate returns to God's presence in the middle of occupations — and the evening examination. Above all, do all of it gently: the Salesian counsel is to be patient with yourself and to correct yourself without anger, since anger at one's own faults is itself a form of pride.
Background
St Francis de Sales set out the morning exercise, the direction of intention, spiritual retirement and the evening examination in the Introduction to the Devout Life (1609), written for lay people living in the world. "Live Jesus!" was his and St Jane Frances de Chantal's watchword, and remains that of the Salesian family. Pope Francis returned to his teaching in Totum Amoris Est (2022) on the fourth centenary of his death.
Practice kind
Other
Tradition
Salesian
Duration
About 5 minutes
Frequency
Throughout every day
Content subtype
other