Great Book For Keeping On The Path To God

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	• Introduction to the Devout Life Francis De Sales, John K. Ryan Image, 1972 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 30 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Everyone can live a Devout Life

This book is an instruction of devotion to those who live any kind of life, not just religious. So Saint Francis de Sales with that thought writes regarding an individual, which by desire of devotion wishes to the love of God. The instructions are broken down into five parts.

He starts by showing us how to turn our simple desire to a life of devotion into an absolute resolution. Among all of us, a Bishop should set the example of perfect devotion. But its practice cannot be the solitary life of a Carthusian. Nor would that be the life for a tradesman. True devotion does no harm, but rather leads all things toward perfection. True devotion actually makes your trade take on a great beauty. To follow our path of devotion we must purify our soul via the sacrament of penance. And this must be done with fore thought, if necessary write a list. We must truly depart from sin with all our heart. We must then be diligently exercising ourselves by starting our days with spiritual exercises. Which will help place us in the presence of God and beseech him to inspire us. The remainder of the section focuses on various meditations.

Then we learn how we may unite more to Our Lord. By use of the sacraments, God comes closer to us. And by holy prayer, in which he attracts us closer to Him. And above all mental prayer is recommended which has for its object the life and passion of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Then there is a short explanation of how to perform mental prayers. We are reminded that God is everywhere, especially in our heart and spirit.

The third part is to learn to advance in the exercises of the virtues. Charity is the most important of all virtues. For with charity come all the other virtues. When we exercise virtues, we should always prefer those that are in accord with our duty, not those that we feel are most agreeable. We must exercise virtues faithfully and discreetly.

Fourth he exposes us to some of the snares of our enemy and how we might escape them, and then move forward in our life of devotion. And finally, We stop and take a break. We renew our strength and examine our advancements in our devotion to God.

This is a perfect discourse on how to live a holy life in the secular world. Perhaps even more relevant today then when it was written.

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Timeless reference for the lay person

For anyone who wants to live a true spiritual life while following one's vocation to a lay life, this is a book to use as a reference. It is full of practical guidelines and instructions for daily life. The meditations as well as the topics addressed will inspire the reader deeply. I find Francis of Sales' introduction timeless and very a propos in our modern world.

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Thorough

Francis de Sales' devotional classic takes seriously the call to holy living and develops a focus on the perfection of the human character to an unprecedented degree and to a degree which, most likely, God intended. Addressed to "Philothea," she who would love God, it teaches us how to make an offering of our lives.

The book is divided into five major parts:

1. "Instructions and Exercises Needed to Lead the Soul from Its First Desire for the Devout Life Until Brought to a Full Resolution to Embrace It"
2. "Various Instructions for Elevating the Soul to God by Prayer and the Sacraments"
3. "Instructions on the Practice of Virtue"
4. "Necessary Counsels Against the Most Frequent Temptations"
5. "Exercises and Instructions for Renewing the Soul and Confirming It In Devotion"

Though the subheadings constitute an exhaustive and sometimes exhausting 119 chapters, down to the finest details of rules for widows and virgins, the overall effect is an intense and intentional focus on the innerworkings of the thoughts and desires of all of life. He is clearly indebted to Francis, Bernard, Augustine, and Gregory of Nazianzen.

The first part guides the readers through a series of (ten) meditations that motivate us to purify ourselves from sin and resolve to be wholly committed to a virtuous life. It is a study in self-purgation.

Secondly, de Sales walks us through meditations, retreats, and sacraments that bring us into the presence of God. We are reminded that this must be done with joy if it is to have meaning at all (p. 99).

Thirdly, we are coached on the virtues of humility and patience and chastity. He tells us how to keep poor in spirit, even in the presence of wealth (which seems a striking compromise for such a devoted work, p. 150). Here he becomes more specific and pragmatic. We are to have friendships that are not self-seeking or guided by pleasure. We should surround ourselves with virtuous people, like a drone needs bees to make honey (p. 177). We are to dress properly and govern our speech with caution. He warns against alcohol, gambling, and dancing (p. 196). Finally, widows and virgins are challenged to faithful abstinence.

The fourth is the negative side of the third, warning against the vices. This involves concern for pleasure, anxiety, sorrow, and spiritual dryness. It is primarily a resistance to inward tendencies, sounding like depression. He recommends a focus on external works, like embracing the crucifix, confession, and communion (p. 242).

Fifth, we are to practices the exercises that will daily renew our souls. This primarily comes in the form of self-awareness. We are to examine our souls in relations to its progress, its relation to God and neighbor. He gives us five considerations to keep us focused on the things that matter: the excellence of the soul, the excellence of virtue, the example of the saints who have gone before, the love of Christ, and God's eternal love.

Pragmatically, like the writings of Dallas Willard, the book opens up the possibility and reality of giving the soul and piety a kind of serious and sustained attention which is unfamiliar in modern American society. You walk away from the book wondering what the modern example of this sixteenth century manual looks like.

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Living a devout Life

This book comes highly recommended to anyone who is interested in living a devout life and living according to what pleases God.

Great Book For Keeping On The Path To God

This book is excellent, it is easy to understand, very relevant, and contains very profound insight on how to live a devout life. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants help in establishing a God centered life as St Francis De Sales helps make it very clear and obtainable. I use the meditations contained in the book in my own prayer life. I have read this book repeatedly and I have bought it again as a gift for a friend.

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