Intro to Devout Life

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HabemusFrancis

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I recently have been reading “Introduction to the devout life” by St. Francis De Sales. And I highly recommend it!🙂

It is one of my favorite spiritual books. Francis seems like a lovely person. Very kind, sort of a renaissance man, with all his knowledge about classical history and mythological biology and creatures.

He is very funny as well, with many aphorisms and witticisms. For instance, on avoiding arrogance " A horse, a feather in the hat, and a fine suit do not bring credit to a man. Rather the credit belongs to the horse, the bird and the tailor!"

He also seems more of a rational humanist sort of saint. He praises the saints who practiced corporal mortification, and had stigmatas, levitated, etc. But he urges readers of his works to practice mortification by spiritual means rather than physical menas, and says that things like stigmatas, etc, should not be sought out, but things that one should be fine with if they come or if they dont come.

Anyway, I credit his work for me abandoning my (briefly held )agnostic skepticism, and returning to the Catholic fold!😃

Has anyone else read this work?
 
I started it years ago, when I was really too young to understand it. However, I do have a copy (my sainted grandmother’s) on my shelf, and I am going to start reading it again, tonight.

Can’t say that at my age I’m too young anymore!!😛

Thanks for the inspiration to re-read a great work.
 
Tis indeed a great manual for a devout life. I delve into it from time to time to keep the fire burning. 🙂
 
HabemusFrancis said:
Anyway, I credit his work for me abandoning my (briefly held )agnostic skepticism, and returning to the Catholic fold!😃

Has anyone else read this work?
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Well done St. Francis! 👍

I haven’t read it but it is on my soon to read list. I hear great things about this book.
 
I’ve recently started it again. I remember reading bits and pieces of my mother’s copy when I was a youngster.
 
It is an outstanding work for sure. I have recently finished it and thinking of reading it for second time already.
 
I also read this book and it helped me a lot (St Francis of Sales is my favourite saint 😉 ) All of his writings make you have a positive attitude towards religion, makes you love it and embrace it with all your heart. In my opinion, his approach is similar to the Little Way of St Therese of Lisieux, because it emphasizes the practice of little hidden acts of virtue in our everyday life.
 
Currently reading it. Awesome book. Very inspirational and spiritual.
 
Also am currently reading it and I would highly recommend it to anyone wishing to grow in their faith.

I would also add that his emphasis on not seeking out extraordinary things like the Stigmata or an Apparition is not unique to him. It has never been a part of Church Teaching or Tradition that anyone seek such things … to do so is to invite the Evil One into one’s life to deceive us. In fact, to seek such things is strongly advised against as a sign of one’s lack of faith and pride.

If you read about any of the Saints who experienced such things, they did not receive them with any sense of being favored or special … in fact often they tried to keep these occurrences secret.
 
I also love St Francis de Sales as my favorite saint and I agree that his spirituality is echoed in St Therese, however I personally find St Francis more appealing. Maybe because he was active in the world rather than in Carmel like St Therese. By that I mean that I find his advice relevant, useful and specific. He is very encouraging and loving and merciful. I am outside the US at the moment but expect to return in a few months. I have begun to explore more commited ways of following St Francis. There is path secular women can take which includes a two year formation in Salesian spirituality and I’m sure there is something similar for men. I love that he was a great missionary and was commited to his calling as a Bishop even when Kings of many nations wanted to make him a Cardinal or celebrate him. His is very encouraging to be yourself and follow your vocation where you are. He and St Therese both talk about being flowers under the Lord’s feet.
 
St. Francis used to carry a copy in his pocket for 18 years of The Spiritual Combat by Dom Scupoli, and read excerpts from it daily. I think that was the inspiration for his great classic, Intro to Devout Life, for you will find a similar style of writing that St. Francis adopted - probably from being in that author’s holy presence so constantly.

Needless to say, BOTH classics are excellent and will aid in bringing a devout follower to great holiness.
 
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