* January 24 – Our Lady of Prayer (Toledo, Spain) - Saint Francis de Sales (d. 1622)  * Freed from anxiety before a statue of the Virgin --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association January 24 – Our Lady of Prayer (Toledo, Spain) - Saint Francis de Sales (d. 1622)  Freed from anxiety before a statue of the Virgin What strikes us the most about Saint Francis de Sales’ personality is his kindness. He had high expectations however they were equally matched by his kindness and the attention he paid to people. What was his secret? We must remember the spiritual crisis he went through. At age 19 he experienced a strong crisis of anguish and despair, which caused him to suffer from insomnia. In the context of the Protestant Reformation, the question of predestination was at the forefront of theological reflection. Francis had somehow convinced himself that he was excluded from God’s friendship forever and condemned to hell. He was freed from this anxiety before the statue of the Virgin at the church of Notre Dame des Gres in Paris, when he pronounced this act of abandonment: "Whatever happens ... I love you Lord, at least in this life if it is not granted to me to love you in eternal life; I will always place my hope in your mercy." He made the choice of pure love. The sense of freedom felt by Saint Francis de Sales was the result of this interior liberation. He had experienced mercy, and could now be a witness of mercy. This foundational experience was at work early in Francis, shaping the man who would be called one day the "Doctor of divine Love and evangelical meekness." Indeed, it would influence his whole life and work. His Excellency Yves Boivineau Bishop of Annecy www.mariedenazareth.com Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen. God Does Exist 500,000 views on YouTube in French and now viewable in English! Dear friends of A Moment with Mary, Our video: "Demonstration of the existence of God and Christian reasons to believe in God" in French (48 minutes) has hit 500,000 views on YouTube! The English version called "God Does Exist" (56 minutes) was recently posted on YouTube. We have received a lot of positive comments on the quality and convincing force of this video. Let us invite you to help us by sharing it with your friends and contacts.   Thank you for your on-going support.  Best regards, The Mary of Nazareth Team