St Francis de Sales

John C. Reville

As no sensible person would make a long road trip without first consulting a map, so the person intent upon gaining Heaven should first resort to a competent guide to reach that Goal of all goals. And no better guide to Heaven exists thanAn Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Doctor of the Church. It is at once easy to read, being laid out in short chapters, yet thorough, authoritative, reliable, kind and gentle a mirror of its author. It is a book, moreover, for all, because all are called to the devout life. True devotion to God, the author points out, adorns every vocation. The devout life, moreover, is a lovely, a pleasant, and a happy life. (p. 5) An Introduction to the Devout Life is a book to be read with pencil in hand. It is a book to be read again and again. It is a book to make your guide for the rest of your life. It goes to the heart of becoming good. Its aim is to help you be rid of sin and even the inclinations to sin. No one will come away without being profoundly impressed and without being motivated to enter upon the devout life . . . which leads ultimately to God and to Heaven.

Philothea; Or an Introduction to the Devout Life

The Classics Made Simple: Introduction to the Devout Life is part of a series designed to provide an orientation course before you embark on the the great works of Catholic Literature. Each Made Simple booklet will give you vital facts and features such as: Introduction to the TAN Classic, Major Events Timeline, Biography, How to Read a TAN Classic, color images, Words to Know, and much more. This series will provide you with a compass for navigating the best of Catholic writings.

The TAN Guide to an Introduction to the Devout Life

There are as many paths to holiness as there are saints in Heaven . . . but you can’t follow them all. Yet there’s one thing every saint practices that you can imitate: the simple art of loving God, which the beloved St. Francis de Sales explains for you here. Under his wise and gentle guidance, you’ll discover the secrets to growing holier through the simple things in life — work, play, and rest. You’ll learn to avoid the distractions (even religious distractions) that trouble and weary your soul . . . and you’ll soon be able to focus your energy simply on loving God. Listen to the holy words of this saint; take them to heart; make them a part of your life. Soon you’ll be well on your way, following that path to Heaven that God, from all eternity, has given you as your very own. St. Francis de Sales himself will teach you the secrets of developing: Patience Trust Modesty Courage Simplicity Humility Obedience Generosity Perseverance Selflessness Gentleness Love of God and other key virtues A note for the skeptical and discouraged: Have you tried to grow closer to God using one technique after another, yet still find you haven’t made much progress? That’s a common problem in today’s world, where devotion has become so complicated that the simple art of loving God has been lost. Don’t despair. Generations of Christians have made finding God harder than it need be, which is why, every few hundred years, God sends us a saint like St. Francis de Sales to remind us that anyone can love God and that it’s not really so hard to do. Listen to St. Francis, and, no matter how many times you’ve failed in the past, you’ll soon be a master of the art of loving God.

St Francis de Sales

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