Introduction to the Devout Life

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DasErlibnis

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Have you read this book by Saint Francis de Sales? I’m on chapter 2 now, and I read the prefaces and introductions, .etc. I’m loving it!
 
DasErlibnis said:
Have you read this book by Saint Francis de Sales? I’m on chapter 2 now, and I read the prefaces and introductions, .etc. I’m loving it!
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Greetings DasErlibnis,

It’s on my Kindle ready to read. I was pretty happy with the preface and the introductions, I just have not had time to read it.

Let me know what you think of it.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
Memento Mori!

I have a tattoo of a dead Cavalry Scout (reference to Fiddled’s Green) whose skull is superimposed over an M16 with a bayonet and a serpent wrapped around it…because I’m a Scout (for the reserves now). The banner underneath reads: Memento Mori

The serpent is the symbol for wisdom, remember “just as Moses raised the serpent in the desert, so shall the son of man be raised up”. The weapon points down, to signify the desire to “put our swords into plowshares” , a useless effect which would signify a desire for peace.

I remember the monks used to wake each other up with a knock saying, “remember thou are mortal”, or “remember death”, “memento mori”.

Ergo, an admonition to my enemies. “You’re just a man.” And for those who already know, like us, a call to life, “live today” “for tomorrow we die”.
 
DasErlibnis said:
Memento Mori!

I have a tattoo of a dead Cavalry Scout (reference to Fiddled’s Green) whose skull is superimposed over an M16 with a bayonet and a serpent wrapped around it…because I’m a Scout (for the reserves now). The banner underneath reads: Memento Mori

The serpent is the symbol for wisdom, remember “just as Moses raised the serpent in the desert, so shall the son of man be raised up”. The weapon points down, to signify the desire to “put our swords into plowshares” , a useless effect which would signify a desire for peace.

I remember the monks used to wake each other up with a knock saying, “remember thou are mortal”, or “remember death”, “memento mori”.

Ergo, an admonition to my enemies. “You’re just a man.” And for those who already know, like us, a call to life, “live today” “for tomorrow we die”.
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Greetings DasErlibnis,

That sounds like a very nice tatoo. I like all the symbology in it.

I used this in my signature becuase it is hard for me to look at life with the perspect of eternity. I liked the Carmelite spirituality where they would have a skull on the table in their refractorys, not sure if they do it now. This is the only way things may make sense is if I keep eternity in mind.

Also it is a very nice detererrant from sinning, and any more deterrants I can have so much the better.

Thanks for sharing that.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
Yep. Nothing like a good old fashion skull to put things in perspective. I got a rosary made from human bones.
 
I own this book but I have yet to read it. Heard it is meant to be good though 👍
 
It’s in my TBR (to be read) pile. (Soooo many books, so little time.) I’ve heard good things about the book.
 
DasErlibnis said:
Have you read this book by Saint Francis de Sales? I’m on chapter 2 now, and I read the prefaces and introductions, .etc. I’m loving it!
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It’s one of my favorite books. I would love to discuss it!
 
A wonderful guide. I put so many underlines in it, I think it got heavier.

It was a little difficult for me to read. Maybe the print in my book, and the style and old-fashioned words, eg, quicken, abjure, nosegay. Then, when in the middle of the book my eyes would drift up to the top of the page and I’d wonder, why does it still say Introduction?? 😃
😊
 
asia53 said:
It’s in my TBR (to be read) pile. (Soooo many books, so little time.) I’ve heard good things about the book.
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Greetings my unabashedly purloining friend,

Unfortunately my TBR pile is turning into several piles and finally I put them on one big bookshelf with four shelves at my home. So my TBR is a BTBR [bookshelf to be read] pile. I keep going on like this, I’ll soon have a room full of to be read books.

I have made the decision that I am taking this summer off and am going to do nothing but read and enjoy myself.

Hopefully I will have the blessing of my spiritaul director on that.

God Bless,
Your theiving friend,
Anathama Sit
 
Anathama_Sit said:
Greetings my unabashedly purloining friend,

Unfortunately my TBR pile is turning into several piles and finally I put them on one big bookshelf with four shelves at my home. So my TBR is a BTBR [bookshelf to be read] pile. I keep going on like this, I’ll soon have a room full of to be read books.

I have made the decision that I am taking this summer off and am going to do nothing but read and enjoy myself.

Hopefully I will have the blessing of my spiritaul director on that.

God Bless,
Your theiving friend,
Anathama Sit
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My dear theiving friend,

LOL! Well, my TBR pile is in front of my two bookselves. Organizing, donating old books is on my “honey do list”, since I am honey, this chore gets shoved behind everything else, or quickly abandoned for something more fun. :o

A summer off is an excellent idea! Recharge the brain cells, align your thought processes, and relax. I think, your spiritual director will be persuaded, since you’ve been working hard, after all, a double degree!

God bless,
Your unabashedly purloining friend,
Asia
 
asia53 said:
My dear theiving friend,

LOL! Well, my TBR pile is in front of my two bookselves. Organizing, donating old books is on my “honey do list”, since I am honey, this chore gets shoved behind everything else, or quickly abandoned for something more fun. :o

A summer off is an excellent idea! Recharge the brain cells, align your thought processes, and relax. I think, your spiritual director will be persuaded, since you’ve been working hard, after all, a double degree!

God bless,
Your unabashedly purloining friend,
Asia
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My dear unabshedly purloining friend,

I am sure my SD will be persuaded, in fact I pray that he is. It’s high time I took a little vacation.

Yeah no body other than me in the house too, so yeah I can relate to the “honey do list.” Only I call that “to put off indefinetely list.” Eventually it will get done.

Oh I know what I was going to get index cards for, I was going to catalog all the books here in the house, that’s a chore that should take weeks.

God Bless.
Your theiving friend,
Anathama Sit
 
Dear DasErlibnis,

I am so sorry. My thieving friend and I have derailed your thread. :o

So, to get back on track, will you please post your thoughts about the book as you read? I’d be very interested in reading your thoughts.

I’m considering moving “Introduction to the Devout Life” up in my TBR lineup.

Thank you,

Asia
 
Greetings to the OP,

Yes I have particpated in derailing the thread. My apologies. I would be interested in hearing what you think about what you read. In fact, I am going to start on this book. Maybe I could share some thoughts as well?

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
You absolutely want to read this book. It’s written by a Doctor of the Church and one of the great spiritual directors of all time. It’s specifically geared toward how normal laypeople can live a devout life.

The book first gives a great series of meditations for anyone looking to deepen spirituality. Then it goes on to discussions of a ton of different subjects and how to approach them in your Christian life. I found it very pragmatic. Look out for the chapters on humility though, you’ll come away from reading those with perhaps your firs glimpse of how prideful you really are. That’s what happened to me.

It’s more than a book, it’s a resource to use for the rest of your life. It’s every bit as applicable today as when it was written 400+ years ago.

One suggestion - the subject matter gets pretty deep at times. This isn’t a book you read quickly. It’s broken up into many small chapters, I had my best luck just reading one chapter at a time slowly and trying to think it through. If your goal is to “just finish it”, you’ll miss much of the wisdom this book has to offer.
 
Strategery said:
You absolutely want to read this book. It’s written by a Doctor of the Church and one of the great spiritual directors of all time. It’s specifically geared toward how normal laypeople can live a devout life.

The book first gives a great series of meditations for anyone looking to deepen spirituality. Then it goes on to discussions of a ton of different subjects and how to approach them in your Christian life. I found it very pragmatic. Look out for the chapters on humility though, you’ll come away from reading those with perhaps your firs glimpse of how prideful you really are. That’s what happened to me.

It’s more than a book, it’s a resource to use for the rest of your life. It’s every bit as applicable today as when it was written 400+ years ago.

One suggestion - the subject matter gets pretty deep at times. This isn’t a book you read quickly. It’s broken up into many small chapters, I had my best luck just reading one chapter at a time slowly and trying to think it through. If your goal is to “just finish it”, you’ll miss much of the wisdom this book has to offer.
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Greetings Strategery,

Thanks so much for this wonderful post. I had skimmed through the book and realized that it was not going to be devoured and should not be devoured.

I am thinking of using this as part of my lectio divina. I would rather mull things over than zoom through. There is so much richness in this book.

Ahh the chapters on humility. I could very well use those, I can hardly wait to read them.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
I guess that one of the reasons I love it so much, its a good day-by-day book. Also, it is chock-full of wisdom and tidbits of wisdom. Lots and lots of quotables in there too.

Ps. I also have a BTBR too 🙂
 
DasErlibnis said:
Yep. Nothing like a good old fashion skull to put things in perspective. I got a rosary made from human bones.
Click to expand...
Oooh, I like the sound of this!

My mother has a rather real-looking plastic skull on her desk (lifted from our collection of Halloween stuff).
 
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