Introduction to the Devout Life

Description

St. Francis de Sales’s An Introduction to the Devout Life is a perennial classic in Catholic spirituality that guides the faithful toward a life of true devotion to God lived in the ordinary cares of everyday life, written in the form of a personal letter addressed to “Philothea,” the lover of God, and rooted in the Church’s spiritual tradition. The work shows how to desire and resolve to live a devout life, how to approach God in prayer and the sacraments, how to cultivate Christian virtues, and how to find remedies against ordinary temptations, making it a practical, authoritative guide to holiness for readers in every state of life.

• Shows how every Catholic, in any state of life, can pursue holiness through true devotion to God
• Teaches practical principles of prayer, sacramental life, and interior recollection
• Explains the cultivation of virtues and remedies against ordinary temptations
• Offered in a gentle, pastoral style from a Doctor of the Church
• Recommended as a foundational guide for personal prayer and spiritual growth

FAQs

Q: Who was St. Francis de Sales?
A: He was a seventeenth‑century Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church, known for his gentle pastoral teaching and spiritual direction that continues to nourish Catholic prayer and devotion.

Q: What topics are covered in this book?
A: It covers how to desire a devout life, how to approach God in prayer and the sacraments, the practice of key virtues, remedies against ordinary temptations, and confirmation in the practice of devotion.

Q: Is this suitable for today’s reader?
A: Yes, its clear and personal style makes it accessible to both beginners and seasoned Catholics seeking to deepen their prayer life and virtue.

Intended Audience

For Catholic individuals and families seeking a foundational guide to Christian holiness, for those desiring deeper prayer and virtue rooted in the Church’s tradition, and for parish or small group formation drawing on the wisdom of a Doctor of the Church.

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 than An 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.

Addressed as a personal letter to Philothea, the lover of God which genuinely represents the reader the book covers: our first desire to lead a devout life to our full resolution to do so, how we should approach God in prayer and the Sacraments, the practice of 16 important virtues, remedies against ordinary temptations, and becoming confirmed in our practice of devotion. St. Francis says, Devotion is spiritual agility and vivacity, by means of which charity works in us, or we in her, with love and readiness; and as charity leads us to obey and fulfill all God’s Commandments, so devotion leads us to obey them with promptitude and diligence. (p. 3)

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. Alone, its 10 brief meditations in Part I will orient you toward God for the rest of your life. 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.

This is the original TAN edition now with updated typesetting, fresh new cover, new size and quality binding, and the same trusted content.