Francis de Sales's Introduction to the Devout Life has remained a uniquely accessible and relevant treasure of devotion for nearly four hundred years. (5) Be courageous and patient increase your good works. CHAPTER I. Small temptations Overall, resisting these lesser temptations provides us with more benefit because they are continual trials for devout and fervent persons. I'll be returning to it many times in the future! Pick one virtue to cultivate or vice to crush. St. Francis de Sales' perennial classic of spiritual direction. This daily series of 3 posted chapters at a. Awareness that God dwells in your heart and spirit. $1.99; $1.99; Publisher Description. We must be Faithful in Things Great and Small. Q. The Second Purification, from all Sinful Affections. Battling wisely against temptation He was a fervent proponent of the universal call to holiness and spent much of his time guiding lay people on the road to sanctity. Meditation on the Benefit conferred on us by God in calling us to His Service. Introduction to the Devout Life Frivolous Attachments. not only is it 400 years old but sometimes each sentence demands serious contemplation for a few days. True devotion is the perfection of charity. We are not always able to banish the temptation but we can take no pleasure in the sin and refuse consent. I place this book in the same league as that classic The Imitation of Christ by Thomas of Kempis. PART III. . CHAPTER X. Incorporating prayer and sacraments into a busy. Of a Well-Balanced, Reasonable Mind. St. Francis gives tips to meditate on for each part of the Mass as well. What true Devotion is. We must attend to the Business of Life carefully, but without Eagerness or Over-anxiety. It's full of practical advice on prayer, virtues, vices, friendships, and so much more. The Sanctity of the Marriage Bed. The desire to be closer to God that he found in people from all levels of . St. Francis de Sales is deeply influenced by the thought of St. Philip Neri and embraces some elements of the life of the laity that were previously thought sinful. It is the first in a new series from Ascension press called Christian Classics, and there is a podcast version by Gregory Pine and Jacob Bertrand Janczyk. The Nature and Excellence of Devotion. Gentleness towards others and Remedies against Anger. Making spiritual progress through daily, monthly, and yearly exercises How to prepare for temptations Once you are aware of your predominate temptations, let your way of life be altogether opposed to them in thought, word, and deed. Morning exercise gratitude for the night, firm resolution for the day ahead, review the upcoming day, humble yourself, offer yourself to God. A notable literary man has said that a good way to learn is to study, a better to listen, and the best to teach. How to Hear and Read God's Word. Reading this volume was a bit of a different process. Consolation must encourage us to humility and good works. this book gave me everything i was looking for and more. Amusements recreation is good to relax the mind and body but we must guard against excess either in the time they occupy or in the importance given to them (for then they become evils as soon as they absorb the heart). If you earnestly desire to be delivered from some evil, or to attain some good, above all things calm and tranquilize your mind and compose your judgement and will; then quietly and gently pursue your aim, adopting suitable means with some method (272). St. Francis of Sales: Introduction to the Devout Life - Christian Classics Ethereal Library. How can virtues be pursued and vices rooted out when temptations and occasions of sin abound? THE DESCRIPTION OF TRUE DEVOTION. Always follow holy desires if your affections are greatly kindled towards God after your preparation, yield to them without heeding any formal method. This should be fitting in regards to the state of life to which God has called you. Carefully practice the opposite virtue and reflect on the vanity and horror of that particular vice. 4 ways to do this (only choose 1 and keep it short and simple): (2) Invocation Humble yourself before God and ask for thegrace to serve and worship Him in your meditation. We must purify ourselves from all venial sins and evil inclinations and have adetachment from all useless activities. The great happiness of man, Philothea, is thus to possess his soul; and the more perfect our patience, the more perfectly do we possess our souls (124). True devotion is the perfection of charity. sdegutis The most profitable humiliations are those that God sends us and those that are most opposed to our natural inclinations. The perfection of this humility consists in taking pleasure and delight in order to exalt Gods Majesty and to esteem our neighbors better than ourselves. ), PRAY WITH CATHOLICS EVERYWHERE TO SAVE AMERICA, Devotion is Suitable to Every Vocation and Profession, The Need of a Guide for Those Who Would Enter Upon and Advance in the Devout Life, The First Step Must be Purifying the Soul, The First Purification, Namely, From Mortal Sin, The Second Purification, From All Sinful Affections, Second Meditation - On the End for Which We Were Created, Ninth Meditation - On the Choice Open to You Between Heaven and Hell, Tenth Meditation - On How the Soul Chooses the Devout Life, A Hearty Protest Made with the Object of Confirming the Soul's Resolution to Serve God, as a Conclusion to its Acts of Penitence, The Necessity of Purging Away All Tendency to Venial Sins, It is Needful to Put Away All Inclination for Useless and Dangerous Things, All Evil Inclinations Must be Purged Away, A Short Method of Meditation, and first, the Presence of God, the First Point of Preparation, Invocation, the Second Point of Preparation, The Third Point of Preparation, Representing the Mystery to be Meditated to Your Imagination, Considerations, the Second Part of Meditation, The Third Part of Meditation, Affections and Resolutions, Evening Prayer and Examination of Conscience, Aspirations, Ejaculatory Prayer, and Holy Thoughts, How to Select That Which We Should Chiefly Practise, Humility Makes Us Rejoice in Our Own Abjection, How to Combine Due Care for a Good Reputation with Humility, Gentleness Towards Others and Remedies Against Anger, We Must Attend to the Business of Life Carefully, but Without Eagerness or Over-Anxiety, How to Exercise Real Poverty, Although Actually Rich, How to Possess a Rich Spirit Amid Real Poverty, Friendship: Evil and Frivolous Friendship, The Difference Between True and False Friendship, Conversation; and, First, How to Speak of God, Unseemly Words, and the Respect Due to Others, Amusements and Recreations: What are Allowable, Balls, and Other Lawful but Dangerous Amusements, We Must be Faithful in Things Great and Small, We Must Not Trifle with the Words of Worldly Wisdom, Temptations, and the Difference Between Experiencing Them and Consenting to Them, How to Strengthen the Heart Against Temptation, Spiritual and Sensible Consolations, and How to Receive Them, It is Well Yearly to Renew Good Resolutions by Means of the Following Exercises, Meditation on the Benefit Conferred on us by God in Calling us to His Service, Examination of the Soul as to its Progress in the Devout Life, Examination of the Soul's Condition as Regards God, Examination of your Condition as Regards Yourself, Examination of the Soul's Condition as Regards our Neighbour, Examination as to the Affections of the Soul, The Affections to be Excited After Such Examination, Reflections Suitable to the Renewal of Good Resolutions, First Consideration - On the Worth of Souls, Second Consideration - On the Excellence of Virtue, General Affections Which Should Result From These Considerations, and Conclusion of the Exercise, The Impressions which should remain after this Exercise, An Answer to Two Objections Which may be Made to This Book. Perfection lies in entertaining no friendships that are not pure, holy, and sacred (179). The Third Part of Meditation, Affections and Resolutions. We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us! The devout life "renders all such actions easy, pleasant, and grateful" (6). Humility Humility is found through reflecting on both (1) Gods mercies and favors towards us and (2) our ingratitude, imperfection, and sins against Him. CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER VIII. by Francis de Sales. Written for Christians in every walk of life and for every age, the book transcends secular lines and provides for a unique handbook of spiritual reflection for people in the world. Be careful and diligent in work but never hurried or anxious. May St. Francis de Sales and his Introduction to the Devout Life encourage you in your pursuit of Christ.. So far the best translation I saw was. Of the other Public Offices of the Church. During his lifetime, Francis de Sales gave spiritual direction to many individuals. Tip = frequently during the day if you can, but at least night and morning, examine yourself whether your soul is in your hand, or if it has not been snatched thence by some passion or anxiety. Remedies against Evil Friendships. CHAPTER XIV. "Ogden O.S.F.S., Edward. web pages That is the gist of this work; for those individuals (which would indeed, unfortunately, be a large numer) who are not destined for a religious vocation or a life of monastic contemplation, the lessons contained within the Introduction to the Devout Life (if at least minutely adhered to) can become a moral and religious compass for individuals who are frightfully lost as a result of the freewheeling sexualization of society, unrepentant, insolent amour propre, the rise of unceasing materialism and other debasing wounds that can cause spiritual deadness and thus can become none too quick to heal. It is a favourable feature of this war, that so long as we will fight, we must be victorious (15). Renew the protestation given in Part I after the meditations on the 1st day of each month and when you feel any slackening in your soul. CHAPTER XXIII. Written in a similar style to that of the Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Siena, the book, however, is in the format of St. Francis writing down answers to a female pupil named Philothea and not a one-on-one conversation as in the Dialogue, but Introduction to the Devout Life is similar in idea. CHAPTER VII. Written over 400 years ago, the Introduction to the Devout Life is still one of the most popular books for those pursuing holiness. How to resist Minor Temptations. On The Practice of Bodily Mortification. For instance, if I have resolved to win those who annoy me by gentleness, I will seek the opportunity of addressing them kindly, but if the occasion does not present itself, I will speak well of them, and pray for them (75). This book was written for people with desire to be closer to God, a desire DeSales found on all levels of society, and the reason he wrote this book. One thing more, dear reader. Great fires flame all the more when the wind blows, but a little fire will be altogether extinguished unless it be sheltered (221). CHAPTER III. it's hard to move through this book fast. Love poverty and the poor; for by this love you will become truly poor yourself, since we become like to that which we love (167). INTRODUCTION To A DEVOUT LIFE. Be content to simply drive them away. Written over 400 years ago, Introduction to the Devout Life is still one of the most popular books for those pursuing holiness. Consider what He is doing, and what you are doing. The Catholic Understanding of Salvation, From Worry to Wonder: A Catholic Guide to Finding Peace Through Scripture, Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress. Chastity has its origin in the heart and its substance in the body. Of Balls, and other Lawful but Dangerous Amusements. Written over 400 years ago, Introduction to the Devout Life is still one of the most popular books for those pursuing holiness. Picture Jesus looking down from heaven on you. Make anopen profession of your desire to be devout. CHAPTER XXIV. They stand alone as such a consoling, encouraging (in the strengthening sense of the word), and complete picture of the life of a Christian life. This masterpiece of Christian literature by a 16th-century priest explains how to live a holy life in the secular world. Charles Borromeo had a great influence on Francis de Sales because of his pastoral approach to bringing devotion to the Christian in the world. prev : next . Topics catholic Collection opensource. Devotion is suitable to every Vocation and Profession. It's broken up into small "chapters" so it's great to read just one little tidbit each day. First and foremost, this book is a manual, a manual on how seek, find, and create a devout life, a life devoted to God. This book was like having a saint as your personal spiritual director. Avoid immodest persons. St. Francis de Sales (15671622) was the Bishop of Geneva and a renowned spiritual director. For though being vowed, and especially solemnly, they place a man in the state of perfection; yet, to arrive at perfection itself, they must be observed, there being a very great difference between the state of perfection and perfection itself; since all bishops and religious are in a state of perfection; and yet, alas, all have not arrived at perfection itself, as is too plainly to be seen. By the help of one virtue heartily practiced men may attain to all holiness ~ Gregory Nazianzen. Paperback. Persevere in this blessed undertaking of a devout life . Introduction to the Devout Life is one of the great religious and devotional masterpieces. An introduction to the devout life Franois de Sales (st.) 1885 2 Reviews Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified Preview this book What. Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales (Summary+Review) Biblical Bookworm 3.25K subscribers Subscribe 254 2.2K views 1 year ago WIEN #firstvideoonyoutube #newcatholicchannel. CHAPTER XIII. CONTAINING COUNSELS CONCERNING THE PRACTICE OF VIRTUE. The world We are crucified to the world and the world should be crucified to us. I found this edition the most authentic one: February 4, 2012: Finished it today and it has renewed my enthusiasm to reread all the spiritual classics and not just read them, but live them. Nothing aggravates evil and hinders good so much as anxiety and worry. CHAPTER VI. Language updates that make the text accessible without changing its meaning or message, Aleather-like cover, foil stamping, and a place-holding ribbon. CHAPTER XI. In this episode, Tom and Fr. 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