Preliminaries

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Preface

Those who have written about devotion have nearly all had in mind the instruction of persons completely separated from life in the world.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Preface)

Description of True Devotion

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 1

You seek devotion, dear Philothea, because as a Christian you know that it is a virtue very pleasing to God.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 1)

Nature of Devotion

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 2

To discourage the Israelites from entering the Promised Land, they were told that it was a country that devoured its inhabitants.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 2)

Devotion suitable to everyone (Varieties of devotion for varieties of people)

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 3

God commanded the plants, at the creation, to bear fruit each according to its kind (Gen. 1:11).  Similarly, he commands Christians, the living plants of his Church, to produce the fruits of devotion, according to each one’s ability and occupation.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 3)

Necessity of Guide to make progress in Devotion

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 4

When young Tobias was told to go to Rages, he said, I do not know the way at all.  His father replied, Well, go and find someone to be your guide.  (Tobit 5:2,4).  Similarly, I say to you, dear Philothea: If you want to set out earnestly on the path of devotion, find some good person to guide and direct you.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 4)

Deliberate choice of the devout life

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 18

Contemplate the beauty of this kingdom of devotion.  How beautiful the sight of this assembly of virgins, men and women, whiter than the lily; this gathering of widows, full of holy self-denial and humility.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 18)

Do the will of God joyfully

  Letter to Madame Brûlart

(Letters to Persons in the World, Do the will of God joyfully)

The virtue of devotion is nothing other than a general inclination and readiness of the soul to do what it knows to be agreeable to God.

(Read further in Letters to Madame de Brûlart, Letters to Persons in the World)

Do the will of God joyfully

  Letter to Madame Brûlart

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, Principal means of uniting oneself to God and others)

The means of attaining perfection vary according to the diversity of callings: religious, widows, and married persons – all must seek this perfection, but not all by the same means.

(Read further in Letters to Madame de Brûlart, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

We must bear ourselves

  Letter to Madame Brûlart

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, We must bear ourselves)

As for your desire to see your dear ones make progress in the service of God and in their longing for Christian perfection, I praise this desire of yours tremendously and, since you wish it, shall add my poor prayers to your supplications to God for this intention.

(Read further in Letters to Madame de Brûlart, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

A heart gentle toward one's neighbour and humble toward God

  Letter to Madame de Limojon

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, A heart gentle toward one's neighbour and humble toward God)

And how happy you will be if in the midst of the world you keep Jesus Christ in your heart!  I beg Him to live and rule there eternally.  Keep in mind the main lesson He left us – in three words so that we would never forget it an could repeat it a hundred times a day: “Learn of me,” He said, “that I am gentle and humble of heart.”

(Read further in Letters to Madame de Limojon, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

Do not expect an immediate reward in devotion

  Letter to Madame Brûlart

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, Do not expect an immediate reward in devotion)

Persevere in overcoming yourself in the little everyday frustrations that bother you; let your best efforts be directed there.  God wishes nothing else of you at present, so don’t waste time doing anything else.  Don’t sow your desires in someone else’s garden; just cultivate your own as best you can; don’t long to be other than what you are, but desire to be thoroughly what you are.

(Read further in Letters to Madame Brûlart, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

A Disciple's heart

  Corrigan Francois

(The Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales: A Way of Life.  "A Disciple's Heart")

We must begin with the heart, a heart enlightened and guided by reason, a heart which remembers.  This presupposes a heart which is always available and an individual always “ready to learn.”

(Read further in Corrigan Francois, The Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales: A Way of Life, Translated by Joseph D. Bowler OSFS and Lewis S. Fiorelli OSFS, Bangalore, India: SFS Publications, 1992)

On obtaining true devotion and peace of soul

  Letter to Madame Brûlart

(Letters to Persons in the World, Do the will of God joyfully)

The virtue of devotion is nothing other than a general inclination and readiness of the soul to do what it knows to be agreeable to God.

(Read further in Letters to Madame Brûlart, Letters to Persons in the World)

A Sense of Proportion

  Letter to Christine

(Letters to a Wife and Mother, A Sense of Proportion)

As often as you can throughout the day make sure that you don’t become too deeply engrossed in what you are doing and so lose your sense of proportion; make sure, too, that you have one hand firmly in the grasp of our blessed Lord.

(Read further in Letters to a Wife and Mother)

Back to top