Feast of St. Francis de Sales

Sports, banquets, parties, fine clothes, and stage comedies are all things that, considered in themselves, are by no means evil. They are indifferent acts and therefore they can be neither good or bad. At the same time such things are always dangerous and to have an affection for them is still more dangerous. Hence, Philothea, I hold that although it is licit to engage in sports, dance, wear fine clothes, attend harmless comedies, and enjoy banquets, to have a strong liking for such things is not only opposed to devotion but also extremely harmful and dangerous. It is not evil to do such things, but it is evil to be attached to them. It is a pity to sow such vain and foolish affections in our heart's soil. They usurp the place of worthwhile interests and hinder the sap of our soul from being used for good inclinations.

-- St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life

Nihil vero tam damnosum bonis moribus quam in aliquo spectaculo desidere; tunc enim per voluptatem facilius vitia subrepunt.

-- Seneca, Epistulae Morales, 7

Franciscus and I were watching Michigan State vs. Ohio State last night. While I was immersed in the flow of the game, he was so kind as to humor my avid affection for Michigan State basketball. What for him was an idle delight - if that! (though there was beer involved) - was for me something that brings to mind the above piece of advice in St. Francis de Sales' Introduction to the Devout Life.

Many of us can sympathize with these feelings: the exhilaration of delight when our team wins a close one and the gut-wrenching frustration when the boys go down by a few points.

Are these misplaced affections? I'm inclined to think so, to think that we are wasting energy (more spiritual than physical, perhaps) or time on what is truly one of the passing trifles of this world.

I don't mention, of course, the near occasions of sin which pursuing such affections - otherwise (perhaps) matters of indifference morally speaking - might put us in. Ambrosius and Iacobus know how I almost fell in with a dancing girl on account of spending too much time at Joe's Sports Bar last year. There are the dangers of overconsumption, not limited to bars nor to a passion for sports. To a large extent, I suppose, these dangers can be obviated by watching from the safety of home, alcohol free, feeding only off of one's passion for the sport and the love for one's team.

Even in such a sterile environment, though, I think that I can see the danger of which St. Francis de Sales speaks. Whether Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone can be taken as any guide in the matter, I know not. It's not something that I plan on giving up anytime soon, but it is a matter I wonder about from time to time.


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