Devout life does not require withdrawal from the world. This was the central insight of Saint Francis de Sales, a 16th-century priest whose Introduction to the Devout Life has not gone out of print in almost four centuries. Francis served the church at a dangerous time in a dangerous place: during the Reformation, in Calvinist areas of France, when celebrating mass was punishable by death. He was a popular minister and a prolific letter writer whose correspondence was cherished for its clear and direct instruction in the ways of piety. The book collects passages from many of those letters, organized as one message addressed to the allegorical character Philothea (which means "lover of God"). The book includes long sections about prayer, temptation, and how to maintain and renew devotion to God. But it is most distinguished by its discussion of how to live a holy life in the secular world. Each chapter (such as "How to Combine Due Care for a Good Reputation with Humility") is frank, uncannily modern, and precise.

Introduction to the Devout Life

Religion & Spirituality

De Sales, Saint Francis

Christian Books & Bibles

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Almost all those who have written concerning the devout life have had chiefly in view persons who have altogether quitted the world; or at any rate they have taught a manner of devotion which would lead to such total retirement. But my object is to teach those who are living in their own households, and whose calling obliges them to a social life, so far as externals are concerned. And so I have shown them that a true stedfast soul may live in the world untainted by worldly breath.

Wilder_Publications

This is a photographic reprint of the original to insure faithfulness to the original. THE following Treatise is the message or teaching of S. Francis de Sales to the Calvinists of the Chablais, reluctantly written out because they would not go to hear him preach. The Saint neither published it nor named it. We have called it "The Catholic Controversy," partly to make our title correspond as nearly as possible with the title "Les Controverses," given by the French editor when the work was posthumously published, chiefly because its scope is to state and justify the Catholic doctrine as against Calvin and his fellow-heretics. It is the Catholic position, and the defence of Catholicism as such. At the same time it is incidentally the defence of Christianity, because his justification of Catholicism lies just in this that it alone is Christianity; and his argument turns entirely on the fundamental question of the exclusive authority of the Catholic Church, as the sole representative of Christianity and Christ. This is the real point at issue between the Church and the sects, and therefore he, as officer of the Church, begins by traversing the commission of those who teach against her. He shows at length, in Part I., that she alone has Mission, that she alone is sent to teach, and that thus their authority is void, and their teaching but the vain teaching of men. This teaching he tests in Part II. by the Rule of Faith. Assuming as common ground that the Word of God is the Rule of Faith, he shows that the socalled reformers have composed a false Scripture, and that they err also in rejecting Tradition or the unwritten Word of, God. And then, proceeding to the central point of his case, he shows that while the Word of God is the formal Rule of Faith, is the external standard by which faith is to be measured and adjusted, there is need of a judge who may explain, apply, and declare the meaning of the Word. That judge is the Holy Catholic Church. She is thus the necessary exponent of the Rule of right-believing, and each of the voices by which she utters her decision becomes also a part of the Rule of Faith, viz., her own general body, Councils, Fathers, and her supreme Head and mouthpiece, the Pope, the successor of S. Peter and Vicar of Christ. Miracles and harmony of doctrines may be considered the complement of the Rule of Faith. In all these matters the Saint proves conclusively that the Catholic Church alone fulfils the necessary conditions. In Part III. he comes to the doctrines of the Church in detail, but of this Part there only remain to us three chapters on the Sacraments and an Essay on Purgatory. This may suffice as to the aim and subject-matter of the Treatise. Of its intrinsic merits the author's name is sufficient guarantee, but we add more direct testimony because it is a new revelation of the Saint.

The Catholic Controversy

Literature & Fiction

Literary

Four saints have given us sage advice on preaching. They all recommend a simple method that will bring about the conversion of sinners and strengthen the just in virtue. They advised shorter sermons that get to the point and teach virtue, than long drawn out sermons, which gain the applause of men, but do not touch the heart. Saint Francis de Sales revived preaching after the Protestant Revolt. In his letter to a fellow bishop, he outlines the basics on how to preach profitably. Saint Francis de Sales sayd: "As to preparation, I am in favor of making it in the evening, and in the morning of meditating within oneself on what one wishes to say to others."Saint Vincent de Paul at the same time presented his Little Method, which is outlined below. He asked the question: "What would Jesus do?" long ago. He said: "Hold fast to the simplicity which you have found to be so successful in other missions. The spirit of the world, with which this district is saturated, can neither be fought not conquered save by the spirit of Jesus Christ." He also said: "Mental prayer is the great book of the preacher." Saint John Eudes also gives some sage advice on preaching in his work on the priesthood. He says: "The end and purpose of this heavenly office is to form Christ in the hearts of the faithful that He may reign there; to dispel the darkness of hell and illumine the light of heaven in men's souls; to destroy sin and open the floodgates of grace; to destroy the tyranny of Satan on earth and reestablish the Kingdom of God." After the death of these three saints, God raised up Saint Alphonsus, whose advice caused some controversy, which he refuted. He followed Saints Francis de Sales and Vincent de Paul and their methods and ideas. Saint Alphonsus said: "It is related in the life of Saint Philip Neri that he commanded those who gave instructions to the people to speak on subjects that are useful and popular, and never enter into scholastic questions, or to seek after sublime conceptions."These works of the saints are presented without comment, so that the reader may form his own opinions. It is strongly recommended that you take notes as you go along and mark up this book, so you can find important points later. I pray that this work will help preachers to preach the Word of God, clearly and with profit to the faithful,

Instructions From the Saints on How to Preach

Hermenegild TOSF, Brother

Eudes, Saint John

Ligouri, Saint Alphonsus

de Paul, Saint Vincent

Almost all those who have written concerning the devout life have had chiefly in view persons who have altogether quitted the world; or at any rate they have taught a manner of devotion which would lead to such total retirement. But my object is to teach those who are living in their own households, and whose calling obliges them to a social life, so far as externals are concerned. And so I have shown them that a true stedfast soul may live in the world untainted by worldly breath, finding a well-spring of holy piety amid the bitter waves of society, and hovering amid the flames of earthly lusts without singeing the wings of its devout life.

Written over 400 years ago, Introduction to the Devout Life is still one of the most popular books for those pursuing holiness. St. Francis de Sales explains how to turn that desire for sanctity into resolutions that yield grace-filled results.
Themes include:
<ul>
<li>Pursuing a devout life whole-heartedly</li>
<li>Incorporating prayer and sacraments into a busy schedule</li>
<li>Growing in virtue</li>
<li>Battling wisely against temptation</li>
<li>Making spiritual progress through daily, monthly, and yearly exercises</li>
</ul>
Whether you are just beginning your spiritual journey or are more advanced in the spiritual life, you’ll be able to apply this timeless wisdom immediately. Let St. Francis de Sales illumine the path to holiness and strengthen your desire to walk that road with the Lord.

Augustine Institute / Ignatius Press

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Books by De Sales, Saint Francis

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Introduction to the Devout Life

Introduction to the Devout Life

The Catholic Controversy

Instructions From the Saints on How to Preach

Introduction to the Devout Life

Introduction to the Devout Life