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I mean, the book isn't exactly intended to make you feel warm and fuzzy the way most self-help books are. But it's basically a self-help book, nonetheless. It's about how to live a better life, how to be a better person. You obviously don't have to be Christian to do this. To be a better person, I mean, or even to benefit from the book, but it helps, when reading this book, to have a Catholic background, because, at least in my case, it meant that I was used to hearing all that guilt and humiliation stuff as background noise anyway, so it was easy for me to put it aside.

If you're not Catholic - or if you're a Catholic who never learned how to just selectively ignore that shit - this book probably won't function as a self-help book for you. For me, that's how it functioned. And what it did was kind of point out various emotional or psychological - spiritual, if you must - pitfalls that I was falling into. How in any given case I was getting wrapped up in my pride or my ego in ways that were ultimately counterproductive for me. And it seemed like every time I opened the book there was something in it that helped me. So I'm giving it a good rating.

That said, you'd probably do just as well to skip all the self-loathing that apparently comes along with 16thth Century Christianity and just read the Tao, meditate for a few minutes every day. I was an extreme case. Needed to be disabused of my bullshit in more sever terms. So Frankie was a big help on and off for a year or so. I mean, whatever you do, don't sit down and read this thing from front to back.

You'll fucking kill yourself.

Summary of An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

And I get it. It's not meant to do that. It's meant to bring you closer to God so you can bask in the light of Christ and be happy on a deeper level and so forth. And it can probably do that. It did do that for me, in a way. Most of us don't need this kind of help feeling shitty about ourselves. This literally took me a year to read but it was worth it. Full of so much wisdom.

I'll be referencing it a lot, I'm sure. May 14, Frederik Vandelannoote rated it really liked it Shelves: Very clear introduction into the religious life Very practical in nature with lots of examples. One of the best i have read until now. No wonder why St. Francis de Sales is a Doctor of the Church. May 09, Jonathan Drnjevic rated it it was amazing. Treasures of wisdom abound in this text. Very helpful to anyone seeking to live a spiritually rich Christian life. Dec 04, Nathaniel Turner rated it it was amazing. This book is a superb example of Francis de Sales' pastoral style and earnest faith.

Everything in here is worthwhile Christian reading, regardless of your faith background. I cannot speak highly enough of Francis' exhortations to the faithful.


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You may disagree that the goal of Christian living is devotion, or holiness, but you cannot claim that following the advice set forth here will make you a lesser Christian. There is one section which strikes me as being particularly poignant in a "post-Chr This book is a superb example of Francis de Sales' pastoral style and earnest faith.

There is one section which strikes me as being particularly poignant in a "post-Christian" world. Part 4, Chapter 13 speaks in depth of the differences between true devotion and simply good feelings. In much of Christianity, there is a popular movement toward "emotional" faith, where devotion is proved by having the right feelings at the right time in the right way. Some say that if you don't "feel" the Holy Spirit moving, or if you aren't "filled with joy" when the church praises, then you must not really be a Christian.

This kind of thinking can be devastating for the faithful who do not experience constant elation, even in the presence of the Almighty. Francis warns against this line of thought and exhorts his reader to be earnest, steadfast, and dedicated each day, especially in times of spiritual dryness, when it seems like God is far away. Faith is easy when you experience positive emotions in its every encounter; true devotion shines through only when the going gets tough. There are also a few quotes which I find especially encouraging. Part 1, Chapter 8 includes these powerful words emphasis added: But, on the other hand, all devotion and good works will seem so precious and so sweet: Why did I not tread that pleasant path?

Then what you thought to be little sins will look like huge mountains, and your devotion will seem but a very little thing. These are just a couple of the great exhortations available in this book. I highly recommend it.

Apr 14, J. Robert Larmer rated it liked it. When I initially read about St. Francis de Sales I was really excited to read him. Here was a man, who, like myself, experienced deep spiritual despair upon being exposed to Calvinism. Francis, like myself, also came out of that despair with a firm resolution towards God's mercy and unconditional love. So it came as a surprise to me to find all the ugly anger of Protestantism in this book. Meditations on sinners suffering in hell, acting pious so that you could avoid hell, sections on not jud When I initially read about St.

Meditations on sinners suffering in hell, acting pious so that you could avoid hell, sections on not judging people followed by extensive descriptions of the sorts you shouldn't associate with; it goes on and on. There is even a section on how important it is to look pious externally in your mannerisms and dress and to avoid spending time with sinners.

It's not my cup of tea and it doesn't fit with what I know about God. Having said all that there are some really good parts here too. Francis employs is thoroughly pastoral and the chapter on anxious thoughts is really good. There are parts strewn throughout that focus on God's immense and unconditional love which are deeply comforting.

Merton sort of highlights the danger of spiritual pride and provides a more reasonable view of hell which fits with God's love. Francis meanwhile gives practical advice on how to live well when one lives in the world outside of a monastery. So they were complimentary to me. All this should go with a disclaimer that St. Francis is far holier than I and far holier than most readers. I don't think the rigidity of the pre-Vatican II Church should take away from that. So read it with both those things in mind.

Dec 30, Walter rated it it was amazing Shelves: Francis De Sales wrote "Introduction to the Devout Life" in the 16th Century, he probably didn't know that his book would continue to be one of the most widely read books on Christian spirituality years later. Yet, that is exactly what it is. Francis wrote this book for a lay woman who wanted to live a deeper spiritual life, and its discussion of spiritua When St.

Introduction to the Devout Life

Francis wrote this book for a lay woman who wanted to live a deeper spiritual life, and its discussion of spirituality for lay people is still relevant today. At the risk of sounding crass, I like to liken St. Francis de Sales as the "Dr.


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Phil" of the spiritual life. Francis is skilled at improving relationships. Specifically, the relationship of the Christian soul with God. He works at improving communications through prayer , improving quality time spent together through the sacraments , having an attitude conducive to relationships practicing the virtues and making up for defects in the relationship practicing penance.

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Just like any relationship, the spiritual life requires work and could benefit from advice from an expert. Francis de Sales is that expert. It is fascinating to me how well this book is written. Even in translation, and even centuries later, the prose in this book flows beautifully. It is eminently readable and, like all good spiritual books, it is broken up into very short chapters that could be read in minutes and prayed over.

This is quite rightly known as one of the best books of Catholic spirituality in history. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to deepen their Catholic spirituality. Apr 22, Dad Bowers rated it liked it Recommends it for: This medieval saint is writing to help a young lady in the faith.

He is a keen observer of men and their ways and writes out many ideas on relationships and character that one doesn't see often. He is Catholic, and this comes out so often, but at the same time his Jesuit like urge to meditate, to seek intimacy with God is something we evangelicals often need in our walk with God. Some of his illustrations form classic writers like Pliny and Plato are cute, one wonders how the medieval mind could This medieval saint is writing to help a young lady in the faith.

Some of his illustrations form classic writers like Pliny and Plato are cute, one wonders how the medieval mind could accept such ideas of nature, but other quotes from Augustine, King Louis, Francis, etc. This is a man sent to reconvert John Calvin, so his mind was one of the greatest of the Renaissance, but of course he didn't succeed, Calvin and Beza knew better the Savior than even De Sales! I was disappointed at his tendency to urge Philothea a woman he addresses in the letters who may not even be real to resolve, to try, to work, in doing her devotions.

He should have urged her to seek Christ's help and admit her own approach would never work. DeSales mixes up true Christianity with a works based religion of man. I'll next try to read Ignatius's Spiritual Exercises, written in the same period, that friends have recommended, but I'm afraid of the same kind of weak theology from even such a famous leader of the Jesuits. Devout Life 3 9 Mar 21, Quotes 33 21 Nov 11, Vatican II 2 12 Nov 03, Introduction 2 8 Oct 04, About Francis de Sales. Francis de Sales, C.

It is typically categorized as a form of reading known as lectio divina "divine reading" , based on the Christian monastic practice of spiritual reading. The work is also used as a guide in Christian spiritual direction. During his lifetime, Francis de Sales gave spiritual direction to many individuals. Introduction to the Devout Life is a compilation of letters and notes used in the spiritual direction of his cousin, Madame Marie de Charmoisy, the wife of an ambassador of the Duke of Savoy.

The correspondence began when Madame de Charmoisy, in Annecy, confided to Francis her desire for piety amidst the struggles and distractions associated with life at court. While the letters are addressed to "Philothea" Lover of God , they include the substance of correspondence with others as well as Marie de Charmoisy. Unlike many other writings in this category, it is distinguished by addressing itself to all Christians in any state of life, rather than to just those who have been called to a religious vocation.

Charles Borromeo had a great influence on Francis de Sales because of his pastoral approach to bringing devotion to the Christian in the world. Description Customer Reviews Written over years ago, Introduction to the Devout Life is still one of the most popular books for those pursuing holiness. Be the first to submit a review on this product! Doors in the Walls of the World. Add to Cart Add.

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