The Art of Loving God: Simple Virtues for the Christian Life

by Francis de Sales

There are as many paths to holiness as there are saints in Heaven . . . but you cant follow them all. Yet there's one thing every saint practices that you can the simple art of loving God, which the beloved St. Francis de Sales explains for you here. Under his wise and gentle guidance, you'll discover the secrets to growing holier through the simple things in life work, play, and rest. You'll learn to avoid the distractions (even religious distractions) that trouble and weary your soul . . . and you'll soon be able to focus your energy simply on loving God. Listen to the holy words of this saint; take them to heart; make them a part of your life. Soon you'll be well on your way, following that path to Heaven that God, from all eternity, has given you as your very own. St. Francis de Sales himself will teach you the secrets of

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Christianity, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian Living

150 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1997

About the author

Francis de Sales, C.O., T.O.M., A.O.F.M. Cap. (French: François de Sales; Italian: Francesco di Sales) was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. His father sent him to a good school when he was young, and he received spiritual formation from the Jesuits. After a disturbing spiritual fear of being condemned, he eventually resolved his problem and decided to dedicate his life to God in 1587. He became a doctor of law at the age of 24 at the Jesuit College of Clermont, Paris, and was ordained a priest by Bishop Claude de Granier and stationed in Geneva in 1593. He became bishop of Geneva in 1602.

Francis de Sales is the author of various collections of sermons on Mary, Lent, prayer and Christmastide. He was known as a spiritually understanding man as well as a friend of the poor. Though known for his great intellect and theological wisdom, he spoke with simplicity and earnestness, so that all could understand. An Introduction to the Devout Life, his best-loved work, is based on notes he wrote for a cousin for marriage, stressing that sanctity is possible in everyday life. He was canonized by Pope Alexander VII in 1665. His feast is celebrated on January 24.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

When asked for the greatest commandment Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Mark 12:30.

St. Francis de Sales, a Bishop and Doctor of the Church, was brilliant enough to be simple and he believed (rightly) that sanctity was/is for everyone, so he set out to teach the ordinary people of his day (1567-1622) how to be holy, i.e., how to love God.

The Art to Loving God is not one of the saint’s well-known books (An Introduction to the Devout Life, A Treatise Of The Love Of God) but a compilation of talks he gave to the nuns of the Visitation convent in Annecy in the Savoy. They took notes on his talks and immediately distributed them among all the houses of the order as precious gems. An ‘art’ is ‘the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination’. Can there be an art to loving God? It would seem so.

My first wish would be that everyone would read this little book—and it is little. Only 143 pages, short easy chapters with blank pages after some chapters. Simple words, concepts, a delightful read.

Even so, I suspect many won’t for very good reasons, so here are the pearls of the pearls, a summary of each chapter, even combining some chapters. Don’t underestimate any of these tips.

1.) Have confidence in God’s mercy; the throne of His mercy is our misery. Therefore the greater our misery, the greater should be our confidence!
2.) Embrace His Will which includes His commandments, counsels, inspirations, and the guidance of spiritual directors. Self-renunciation is the virtue of virtues.
3.) Practice humility but not false humility, i.e., value the gifts God gives and don’t doubt your ability to carry out your duties.
4.) Be obedient, patient, and attentive to God.
5.) Know and practice the three kinds of modesty: interior, exterior and modesty of speech.
6.) Accept reproofs without bitterness.
7.) Simply love Him and love Him simply. Don’t expect to find a ready-made way to perfection or love of God. Will to love Him. Be prudent, not cunning. Remain always calm. Learn to banish care from your soul.
8.) Continue to make good resolutions and don’t let failures discourage you. The saints failed too!
9.) Remain untroubled by outward opinion.
10.) Abandon yourself wholly to God. Do not seek special privileges or crosses. Desire nothing; refuse nothing.

Technically I have finished this book but I don’t think I will ever be finished with it. As I’ll never completely master the advice.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an overpowering book written by St Francis de Sales, a Doctor of the church and patron saint of writers. He is known as the apostle of ‘little virtues’. This book is based on a series of talks St Francis gave to the Visitation convent he founded in Annecy in the Savoy in the early 1600s. It contains a series of chapters on various virtues. When I started it I was overwhelmed by the extent to which St Francis wanted us to submit to God and Christ. However, by the end of the book I found myself wanting to learn more and follow more the instructions St Francis gave to achieve perfection in God, in Christ. He said that there is no art to loving God because there is nothing to love but God. St Francis compresses the essence of his talks in that one phrase. He is telling us that there is no fancy or overthought way to God. It is simple. It is just to love . He ranges over God’s mercy, humility, modesty, patience, love, abandonment, prudence and obedience amongst other virtues. He gives powerful instructions to reach God. Underlying the book is the sense that a life of a slow doing rather than thinking is the way forward. We should operate out of our higher mind rather than the lower mind which is filled with doubts and negativity. St Francis writes in a clear and poetic way presenting us with a spirituality that captures the heart. Perhaps we in the 21st century have become too soft and live in a fastfood culture. We want our spirituality handed to us now. Do we have the patience and humility of early believers? Of the saints? This book shines with that. It ends with us being asked to desire nothing and refuse nothing but to suffer and receive with perfect indifference all that the Providence of God may allow to happen to us. What he suggests isn’t easy but it feels right. I recommend this book for those who want to take up their cross and follow the hard road. To walk slowly toward perfection in Christ through the observation of virtues.

[Christopher Pokorny · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Desire nothing & Refuse nothing."

Perennial favorite.

[Audrey Monahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I love St. Francis de Sales… his style is just *chef’s kiss*, his bluntness is quite sharp, and the simplicity with which he approaches the spiritual life is what I strive to embody (unfortunately much easier said than done).

In this book, St. Francis described the importance of not relying on feelings of consolation, the delusion of self-love and perfectionism, and the proper ordering of desires through the abandonment to Divine Providence. It also included some beautiful passages on the necessity of enduring physical suffering with a holy indifference.

I love that after reading St. Francis de Sales, I have some of his thought-patterns and words reverberating in my mind, telling me how I should think and behave. There were so many parts of this book that felt like St. Francis was directly telling me my mistaken beliefs about God and how to love Him (he just makes everything seem so obvious and straight forward).

[Sarah Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of St. Francis De Sales’ talks given in Monestaries speaks to the universal Christian. It gives profound insight into the love of God and it’s simplicity, as well as practical means to obtaining this love. It applies principles found in the gospels to the path of the Chistian, and is a wonderful means to understanding ones own path.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book comprises of spiritual conferences which St. Francis delivered to the nuns of the Visitation convent in France. "Not all of us are called to do great things for the love of God and our neighbor, but we can all do little things each day with greater fidelity and love."

"Humility is nothing else than the recognition that we are absolute nothingness, and it keeps us constant in this estimation of ourselves."

"Love God simply and be untroubled by public opinion."

"They should abandon and submit their whole soul, their actions, and their successes to the good pleasure of God, by love of perfect and entire confidence, relying wholly on the mercy and care of that eternal love which Divine Providence has for them."

[Dax Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books on spiritual disciplines.

[Leslie Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short insightful chapters with something to ponder and then put into practice on every page. Not a book to rush through.

[Michael Rodas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful read with profound reflections on the simplest of things.

[Elisabeth pifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Francis de Sales talks to the Visitation convent in Annecy in the Savoy. Great little sermons on loving God and neighbor throught the little things of everyday life.

This particular edition has omitted points that pertain to the sisters and has edited it to read for the lay person. I'd probally like to read it in it's whole someday.

[Sabina Colleran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted this to be more profound for me than it was at this time. Still, there were invaluable nuggets of wisdom. I'm sure if I pick this up again another time, something else will hit me in another way for a different time.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

[Elizabeth Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave me so many great insights on the spiritual life! I just read a section each morning, a page or so, and taking it slow like that was great, because there's so much content to think about!

[Josilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

With accessible language, St. Francis de Sales offers simple advice for growing closer to God. The short sections make this a great companion for Adoration or daily prayer. Those who are intimidated by the intensive works of other saints will find this a good place to start.

[Christopher Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short collection of thoughts delivered to to nuns of the Order of the Visitation. Practical, insightful, and worthy of frequent rereading.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book by St. Francis de Sales that I have read this year. The first was Roses Among Thorns. I honestly did not get as much from the Art of Loving God as I did from Roses Among Thorns. Although, I can say with complete honesty that perhaps I haven't understood all the deepness of meaning he presents so simply. I suspect this may take a couple readings for me to get the most out of it.

My favorite theme he presents is a focus on the virtue of humility and how we interact with God and go about our lives with humility in mind. St. Francis de Sales often speaks of surrendering ourselves to the will of God whether that means great acts of charity(thanks to God) or enduring suffering(thanks to God).

"Humility does not consist only in mistrust of ourselves, but also in confidence in God."

I found my favorite passage late in the book:

"Do you ask what I desire should remain most deeply engraved upon your mind, so that you may put it into practice? Ah, what shall I say, but those excellent words I have so often already recommended to you: desire nothing, refuse nothing.These words say it all, for they capture in a nutshell the practice of perfect indifference."

"Look at the infant Jesus in the manger: He accepts poverty, nakedness, the company of brute beasts, all the inclemencies of the weather - all, in fact, that happens to Him by His Father's permission. We are never told that He stretched forth His little hands to His mother's breast. He left her to provide all that was necessary to Him, but, at the same time, He never refused the little comforts that she gave Him. He received the services of St. Joseph, the adoration of the kings and of the shepherds, herds, all with equal indifference."

"So, too, ought we to desire nothing and to refuse nothing, but to suffer and to receive with perfect evenness of mind all that the Providence of God may allow to happen to us. May God give us grace to do this. Blessed be God!"

I find the "desire nothing, refuse nothing" to be a very wise way to look at accepting the will of God in our lives. I will revisit this book in the future and hopefully expand on my review.