Lift Up Your Heart: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Francis de Sales

by John Burns

Winner of a 2018 Catholic Press Association First-Time Author, Spirituality Softcover (First Place) and a 2018 Association of Catholic Publishers Inspirational (Second Place).


For more than four-hundred years, Introduction to the Devout Life by Doctor of the Church St. Francis de Sales has been regarded as the essential guide to holiness and loving God. This spiritual classic takes on new life in Lift Up Your Heart, where Rev. John Burns has interpreted ten meditations for the modern reader and distilled them into a ten-day mini-retreat that can easily be completed in the midst of a busy life.

This practical book goes right to the heart of helping you kick the habit of floating along on your spiritual journey to start actively pursuing holiness and devotion to God. During the course of the retreat, you'll learn the basics of forming a daily prayer routine, including how to offer yourself to God, meditate on his love, and maintain peace in the face of suffering and clarity in the midst of temptation. The meditations will help In a very real sense, Burns helps you take St. Francis de Sales as your spiritual director for ten days. As you do so, you’ll feel God’s fatherly love and restart your faith life, equipped with the tools to connect with God and live for heaven now.

Genres: Faith, Catholic, Spirituality, Christian, Religion, Christianity, Prayer

192 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2017

Reviews

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I sat in our parish Adoration chapel, I noticed a fellow 'pray-er' reading this book. When I asked him about it, he handed me the copy in his hands and said 'Keep it'. I later found out he had bought a case of them and was giving them to interested people.

What a gift this book has turned out to be. Much food for thought here. I especially appreciate the comments on humility.

St Francis de Sales wrote the Original Meditations in a book entitled Introduction to the Devout Life. It was written in 1609. John Burns has made these meditations contemporary. Burns is a very spiritual writer.

I know I will read this book again.

5 stars

[Ann-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've tried numerous times to get into St. Francis de Sales. And it's just never really taken off. This book was a great place for me to really start. It takes ten of the meditations from de Sales' Introduction to the Devout Life and makes them more accessible. I've never really taken the time to seriously meditate on death, judgement, heaven, and hell. This book helped me do that. And take the time to realize my utter dependence on God, and the role sin plays in my life. I won't say that I necessarily enjoyed the book - because praying about hard things is . . . hard. But it was good. Good in a life affirming, make good choices, kind of way. I've noted in my copy of the Introduction to the Devout Life where these meditations are so that I may return to them from time to time.

[Nathan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent re-presentation of St Francis’s work, this was incredibly fruitful for my spiritual life and well structured to personal reflection.

[Lynnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful summary of St. Francis de Sales' teaching.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend? Yes! I read this book one chapter per day, so it would feel like a true retreat. I felt it was manageable. It is clear that Father John was indeed inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this. It is a work that opened my mind to start seriously thinking about the physical atmospheres and torments in purgatory and hell. I highly recommend!

[Joel Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fr. John Burns is incredible. It's only 10 days, and it's the best book of this type I've ever read. If you feel compelled, make a commitment to see it through, and do it--you won't regret it.

[Janice Haug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for our book club. I enjoyed getting others' views. I can always learn more than I know at this moment.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobering read for guaranteed spiritual development

I was fortunate to attend a diocesan high school that was run by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. My education was laced with Salesian spirituality and in one of classes I read Authentic Devotion by Bernard Bangley. What distinguishes this book by Fr. Burns is how he asks the reader to use their imagination to contemplate Heaven and Hell. These are realities that don't usually come up in every day conversation, but they are something we should meditate upon regularly. Burns reminds the reader that choosing to follow Christ is not a one-time decision. Rather, every decision we make inches us toward or away from our eternal destiny.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure why this 10-day retreat-in-a-book took me over a year to read, but I guess I can’t worry too much about it. I loved the content from St. Francis de Sales and the modern interpretation from Fr. Burns. It is timeless and relevant. It captures the immense heart of the Father that is so in love with His children. The chapters on eternity wake you up and set your heart on the path to truly living the devout life.

[Joe Hodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding version of St. Francis de Sales’s Introduction to the Devout Life. Fr John Burns does a wonderful job presenting St. Francis’s insights to a modern reader, adding his own perspective while clearly remaining faithful to the original masterwork. Well worth your time if you are looking to begin serious work on or deepen attention to your spiritual life.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Francis de Sales is one of my faves, so I had high hopes for this book…and I was not disappointed. Honestly, it kicked my butt a little, and made me cry a few times, but I suppose that’s a good thing. If you need a little push towards the narrow gate, this book is for you! I’ll be revisiting this one for sure.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books if you are looking for the calm in the storm. St. Francis de Sales is one of the great Doctors of the Church. This book is based on his classic "Introduction to the Devout Life." A must read.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's good but maybe i'm not able to get as into it or appreciate it as much despite trying because it's just not the right time? well, i'm on day 9 so i might as well finish lol. maybe i'll use it again down the road

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! Father John gives a lot of things to reflect on to help you grow in your faith. It's meant to be read over ten days, but Father John puts so much in each chapter I recommend stretching it out more, I read one section each day.

[Rheena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book intended for a 10 day personal mini retreat. But definitely you can soak in each day's meditation for more than a day. A good introduction for St. Francis De Sales' book "Introduction to a Devout Life".

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book! It really teaches you how you can live a devout life with just a few small changes 💕

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although based on the teachings of St. Francis de Sales, I found this approach rather harsh.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good meditations for Lent.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good meditation series. Simple yet effective. Clearly I didn't do it in 10 days. Would have been more effective to read closer together.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deep and thoughtful rendition of St. Francis DeSales Introduction to the Devout Life.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend. Well-done, powerful, straight to the heart. Took me way longer than 10 days, but it was well worth the time. "Live, Jesus!"

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful meditation. Will definitely be reading this again and with others.

[Lisa Scarpello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Christmas Gift from the Dominican Priests at St Patrick’s Church to the parishioners. Easy read and nice introduction to the ideas of St Francis de Sales.

[Macy Vollert · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there needed to be icing the on the cake (Introduction to the Devout Life), it would be this book!! Super good

[Mommcgee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the reread!