Message for July 2, 2026
Last week we had a meeting of the two American provinces of my Order, the Oblates of St Francis de Sales. It began with perhaps the most enthusiastic talk I’ve ever heard, by the head of the other province who truly had “fire in his belly.” And his talk worked: we voted to come back together as The American Province!
Of course, in this life we need far more than just enthusiasm, for without prudence or listening, learning or patience, we would not get very far. Yet I do always try to scout out the fonts of peoples’ enthusiasm in order to learn how to emulate them in those different ways. Why? Because as Grad Chaplain, my perennial work is in helping grad students and those entering the professions not only discern their callings, but also rev up their energy, focus & commitment - till they catch fire, “fire in the belly” - as has been said of the famed women and men whom we study and seek to follow.
The founders of religious orders exemplified this in their lives, the doctors of the church in their study & penetration, the martyrs in their single-mindedness in the Faith - and we hope that we too join them in turn in all the arenas of research, study and teaching that come our way or that we, indeed, originate.
This week, come Independence Day, we celebrate the founders of our nation, not only in their achieving the Independence of those colonies - for so many have done that - but in their eventually achieving the enduring unity of those separate states into one nation.
Each of us have favorite points in our history where our nation’s calling was perfected or put back on the rails. Well, the same happens in life and here the Great Good God has given us The Fire in the Belly of God the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. May God be our North Star, and may an informed conscience be the compass of our lives.
It is sure to be quite a journey and not always an easy one. But then ships, though safest in harbor, aren’t meant to stay there. If they did, they’d miss the very purpose of their existence!
Blest Sailing All Your Days!
Father George Salzmann O. S. F. S.
