Introduction to the Devout Life

They sent me the right book, but with the wrong cover art. When I purchase a book I expect to get the book cover I paid for. Instead, I was sent a completely different book cover. This book cover isn't even one of the options being advertised. Don't advertise books you don't have. Because it was $1.62 I won't bother returning it.

What more can be said about a work that during the four hundred years since its birth (1609) has never gone out of print, and is still garnering the highest praise from Christians of all denominations? A 'classic,' it truly is--'a masterpiece of mystical and devotional literature' (p. 13). INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE (hereafter, IDL) by Francis de Sales (John K. Ryan, ed.)(New York: Doubleday, Image Books, 1972) is the distillation of the written correspondence exchanged between the Roman Catholic bishop, Francis de Sales and his relative by marriage, Mademoiselle de Charmoisy (Marie de Chastel). Published only coincidentally when Marie showed the letters to the Jesuit priest, Pére Jean Fourier, who subsequently persuaded Francis to prepare them for publication. It is no wonder that Francis has been honored as the 'patron saint of writers'. His illustrations--frequently derived from nature--are always rich and informative, but sometimes overly florid. For example, he defines 'devotion' as: 'the delight of delights and queen of the virtues since it is the perfection of charity. If charity is milk, devotion is its cream; if it is a plant, devotion is its blossom; if it is a precious stone, devotion is its luster; if it is a rich ointment, devotion is its odor, yes, the odor of sweetness which comforts men and rejoices angels' (p. 43). Francis has also been deemed a 'Doctor of the Church' for his wisdom. Take for example this comment on the exercise of certain virtues: 'Occasions do not often present themselves for the exercise of fortitude, magnanimity, and great generosity, but meekness, temperance, integrity, and humility are virtues that must mark all our actions. We like sugar better than salt but salt is in more common and frequent use' (p. 121). In IDL Francis depicts what he would likely call the 'normal Christian life' as he understood it as a Roman Catholic bishop in the first decade of the seventeenth century. By his definition, devout Christians '. . . pray, fast, endure injuries, take care of the sick, give alms to the poor, keep vigils, restrain anger, suppress their passions, give up sensual pleasures, and perform other actions painful and rigorous . . .' (p. 41). Do we know any believers today in the early twenty-first century who fit this description? My copy of IDL has more highlighting; in more colors; with more underlining; with more paper clips dotting its edge, than any other book I happen to own. It is one of the few books whose spine I have cracked into two pieces for reason of overuse. Protestants will have to overlook certain Roman Catholic nuance and what they may regard as an inappropriately high estimation for Mary, the mother of Jesus, but is there another Christian spiritual director from whom we can learn more about the subtleties of the human condition? As the editor observes: the book's '. . . greatness lies in many things: in its originality, its completeness, its sincerity, its balance, its penetration, and

This book by St Francis De Sales is very readable and inspiring for anyone wanting to be a lover of God. Written in the 1600's it is as relevant today as then. Aimed not at Religious or Priests but at Lay men and women it explains how to build your faith and prayer life. The abridgement enables today's reader to clearly follow the teachings of this French Bishop. Excellent reading.