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| St. Francis de Sales portrait 1618 |
“Even as a man just recovering from illness walks only so far as he is obliged to go, with a slow and weary step, so the converted sinner journeys along as far as God commands him but slowly and wearily, until he attains a spirit of true devotion, and then, like a sound man, he not only gets along, but he runs and leaps in the way of God's Commands, and hastens gladly along the paths of heavenly counsels and inspirations.”[1]
The
Introduction to the Devout Life is a compendium of the wisdom and
experience of the paternal heart of St. Francis de Sales in regards to the
spiritual life. St. Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Doctor of the Church
and co-founder of the Congregation of the Visitation is also well known for his
book Treatise on the Love of God.
St. Francis was born into a Catholic
French family in 1567. St. Thomas Aquinas states that grace builds on nature; It does not destroy it but
enhances it enabling it to attain what by its own powers it cannot.[2] So it
was in the life of St. Francis. His Father demanded of him academic excellence;
his mother demonstrated discipline and righteousness. With the formation
received by his parents, St. Francis became a very self-possessed, disciplined
and determined man. He is known as a gentle saint, in spite of his tremendous
battle against his tendency to wrath.[3]
In his adolescence, St. Francis
experienced a calling from God to dedicate his life totally as a priest.
Although he deeply desired to respond, his father became an obstacle in the
path towards seminary. St. Francis consecrated his discernment to the Blessed
Mother and continuing in his studies, embraced a strictly disciplined life of
prayer. Having fulfilled his father’s expectations of fulfilling his university
studies of law, he entered the seminary.
St. Francis’ solid and strong
character provided an open door for his zealous spirit. As Bishop, he
volunteered to evangelize to the Calvinists at the Mission of de Chablais. It
was a mission that would place his life at risk. At his arrival, there were
twenty frightened Catholics in the province, but in four years, thousands of
Catholics converts joyfully embraced the faith. In turn, the Holy Father
assigned St. Francis as coadjutor of Geneva. Lastly, in 1620, St. Francis de
Sales became a co-founder of the Visitation order with St. Jane of Chantal.[4]
“I have
frequently repeated that the best way to preach against heretics is love, even
without saying a word of refute their doctrines.”3
The style of The Introduction to
the Devout Life Life is a collection of letters
written to Philothea, meaning in Greek, “one who loves God,” on true devotion. This work resembles that of the Spiritual
Combat which was St. Francis’ favorite book. St. Francis de Sales gazes at
the human heart from its fundamental truth and desire- to know, love and serve
God. The book begins with an introduction into the devout life, followed by
practical suggestions on how to attain it, and spiritual guidance. His wisdom
is accompanied by practical advices and enfleshed through many examples of
saints and analogies reflecting the natural environment. This helps to
emphasize and depict the essence of the point he is trying to communicate to
the reader.
The cover is the image of the most
authentic portrait of St. Francis de Sales painted 1618 and is now at the
Visitation Convent in Turin, Italy. The title Introduction to the Devout Life, expresses perfectly
the content of the book, especially since it is coming from a holy author, St.
Francis de Sales. It is interesting to note that the suggestions communicated
by St. Francis are not simply theories which he stumbled upon, but rather spring
from a life lived arduously seeking true devotion in the life of Christ. The
canonization of St. Francis de Sales by Pope Alexander VII on 19 April 1665 sustain
his work with the pillars of coherency, authenticity, and truthfulness. St.
Francis is a co-founder of the order of the Visitation, therefore from his
heart flows the charism of the order; every charism is a home, school and path
of holiness in the life of the Church, “a free, supernatural gift in a historic
moment that is given for the common good, for the edification of the Body of
Christ.”[5]
The
preface of the book is written by St. Francis de Sales himself in 1608 from
Annecy. St. Francis clarifies that the dogmas of the faith of the Catholic Church
remain unchanging, but the teaching is arranged by the Holy Spirit in a
particular way that is unique to that founder. St. Francis invites not
only those who have quit the world, but all Catholics to seek true devotion,
known as the universal call to holiness. This book was made accessible to all
readers through simple and straightforward language, becoming a best seller throughout
Europe and now worldwide.
St.
Francis clarifies that the book comes from “a certain person who abounding in
uprightness and virtue, conceived a great desire through God’s grace to aspire earnestly
after a more devout life.”[6]
Therefore, he “took great pains to teach her” and “let her keep written records
thereof, to which she might have recourse when necessary.”6 The
publishing of the Introduction to the Devout Life is a fruit of others’
continual urging that it should be published that many may profit from it.
The work is divided into five parts.
Part One includes councils and
practices for the guidance of a soul who is aspiring for a devout life to the
point when she attains a firm resolution for it. Also, it describes true
devotion, its nature and demands.
“I seek by suggestions and exercises to turn
Philothea’s mere desire into a hearty resolution; which she makes after her
general confession, by a deliberate protest, followed by Holy Communion, in
which, giving herself to her Saviour and receiving Him, she is happily received
into His Holy Love.”6
Part Two emphasizes prayer,
meditation, examination of conscience, ejaculatory prayer, holy Communion, the
saints and the Word of God that the soul may turn to God.
“After this, I lead her on by showing her two great
means of closer union with His Divine Majesty; the Sacraments, by which that
Gracious Lord comes to us, and mental prayer, by which He draws us to Him”6
Part Three contains counsels on the
practice of virtue, especially those of Patience, humility, gentleness,
obedience, purity, poverty of spirit, friendship, attachments, bodily
mortification, modesty, edifying conversations, recreations, and balance.
“I set forth how she should practice certain virtues
most suitable to her advancement”5
Part Four includes counsels to
battle temptation, sin, anxiety, sorrow, and spiritual barrenness.
“I bring to light the snares of some of her enemies,
and show her how to pass through them safely and come forth unhurt”6
Part Five renews and confirms the
soul in true devotion with considerations and conclusions.
“I lead her
apart to refresh herself and take breath, and renew her strength, so that she
may go on more bravely afterwards, and make good progress in the devout life”6
TAN
BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC. 1994
ISBN: 0-89555-510-7
[1] Sales, Francis de. Philothea or, An introduction to the Devout Life. Rockford, IL, TAN
Books and Publishers, 1994. 3.
[2] Lapierre,
Prof. Michael, SJ., Grace in Thomas Aquinas.
Toronto, Canada, Regis College. 1994. http://catholic-church.org/grace/western/scholars/lap1.htm.
[3] Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales USA, Gentleness. http://www.fransaliansusa.com/pages/salesian-spirituality/teachings-of-st-francis-de-sales/gentleness.
[4] St. Francis de Sales, at Servants of the Pierced
Hearts of Jesus and Mary. http://www.piercedhearts.org/theology_heart/life_saints/francis_sales.htm.
[5] Galindo, Mother Adela, Foundress SCTJM,
The Father’s Promise: The Gift of the
Holy Spirit, www.piercedhearts.org.
[6] Sales, Francis
de. Philothea or, An introduction to
the Devout Life. Rockford, IL, TAN Books and Publishers, 1994. Preface.
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