Refuse Nothing and Desire Nothing

 

Saint Francis de Sales

The phrase "refuse nothing and desire nothing” has a deep history within Catholicism, as Pope Francis outlined in his commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis de Sales.

It is a statement of selfless commitment to a higher cause with application beyond the Church, in fact to any institution where success requires personal sacrifice in the advancement of a higher goal. US President Harry S. Truman once famously said, "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."

On this theme, ChatGPT now reviews Pope Francis's letter.

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Pope Francis's apostolic letter Totum Amoris Est ("Everything Pertains to Love") commemorates the 400th anniversary of the death, in Lyon, of Saint Francis de Sales, an important figure in Catholic spirituality. At the heart of this letter is a reflection on the Saint's profound spiritual ideal encapsulated in the phrase: "refuse nothing and desire nothing".

Saint Francis de Sales, a Bishop and spiritual director, emphasised that a life wholly centred on God requires the surrender of both will and desire. This ideal was not at all rooted in mere passivity or any lack of personal agency, but in a deep trust in divine providence. 

By "refusing nothing and desiring nothing," one aligns their will completely with God's, accepting life's circumstances — both good and bad — as part of God's plan. This approach is neither about stoic indifference nor fatalistic resignation but a dynamic and trusting relationship with God, modelled on the life of Christ.

In the letter, Pope Francis highlights how this ideal is vividly illustrated in Francis de Sales' own life, particularly in his final days. Despite his poor health, Francis undertook a strenuous journey to Avignon purely out of a sense of service, accepting a terminal discomfort without complaint. His approach reflects a deep humility and a surrender to God's will as he understood it, mediated through the Church.