Thy Will Be Done: Letters to Persons in the World

by Francis de Sales

Three centuries ago, people flocked to St. Francis de Sales, seeking his help for their problems. St. Francis spent countless hours ministering to them face-to-face and wrote over 20,000 letters! From these letters to persons in many countries and in all walks of life, we've selected the ones which will be most helpful to you today.

Each is a hand-written response to someone like you seeking help with an actual problem. You'll be consoled by the warmth, the wisdom, and the holy sympathy you'll find in these pages as the love of this great saint reaches out to us across the centuries. Whatever your circumstances may be, there's wisdom here to make your life holier . . . and happier.

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

255 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1660

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

[Audrey Monahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love St. Francis de Sales… “Thy Will Be Done” is an excellent book that contains letters written by St. FdS to his spiritual directees. It is apparent how attentive, gentle, and loving he was towards the souls God gave him stewardship over. His letters are especially consoling to anyone who struggles with scrupulosity or temptations to grow impatient in their spiritual life.

St. FdS reorients his readers to imagine our Father in a more gentle manner, illustrating Him through heartwarming analogies: “God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand, He will accommodate His steps to yours and will be content to go no faster than you.”

He also provides his directees with an arsenal of quotes and meditations upon which to meditate: “Love nothing too much, not even virtues, which are lost sometimes by passing the bounds of moderation.”

The Holy Spirit and St. Francis de Sales were certainly working in tandem as I read this book—every time I picked it up, the contents and topics spoke precisely to what I was struggling with or pondering at the time. There were times where I had to put the book down to laugh out loud and marvel at how it felt as though he was speaking directly to my heart. (For example, “I have said enough, my child, and more than I wished, on a subject that has already been so much discussed between us. No more, I beg you.”)

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't tend to give out 5 for anything other than my favourite books ever - so keep in mind that's just how I rate books....

This book wasn't so much about what St. Frances was trying to teach - it was more about the way he was teaching: with patience, good humour, gentleness. That was the biggest lesson I could have learned.

Timeless.

[Cade Statz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, an excellent book and holds much instruction. My favorite part is the mortification St. John the Baptist endured, being so close to Jesus but not going to see Him but waiting for Him to come. And after baptism not following Jesus. To have his heart free of all, even the Lord Himself in order to better serve and do His will. A true testament to loving the Lord above all. And so fitting for today’s feast.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very well-put-together and spiritually edifying collection of letters from one of my favorite saints on a surprisingly variety of topics. Highly recommended for fellow Catholics (and/or people who enjoy letters as a genre, as St. Francis de Sales seems to have been quite a remarkable correspondent.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writings of the saints are like the Gospel. So simple, yet so profound, full of wisdom and good sense.

In addition to his role as Bishop of Geneva, Saint Francis de Sales wrote many letters to men and women who asked him for spiritual guidance. Their trials and difficulties from life in the 16th century would be very familiar to anyone today. A woman asking for how to deal with difficult in-laws, another asking how to determine her vocation in life, yet another young man wanting advice for living as a Catholic at court (today we would say at university).

"Thy Will be Done" is a compilation of these letters. They are short -- some just a page or two -- but full of supernatural wisdom and good sense. Saint Francis wrote in a gentle and loving style that was his hallmark. He was not only a great and learned theologian, but an apostle and director of souls who was firmly rooted in the world around him. It's no wonder he was able to convert so many Protestants in Geneva, France and around the world.

Every Catholic in any state in life can profit greatly by this compilation of Saint Francis' letters.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the books that helped me make it through college without leaving the church. It was a very difficult time.

Now is also a difficult time; a time when I stopped watching the local Mass because of some remarks of the associate pastor before Easter about how stupid our civil leaders are for putting so many restrictions into place that prevent the public celebration of Mass and the sacraments.

My sister found a livestreamed Mass celebrated by a priest whose Latin Mass we attended for several years, but I found it hard to recognize him. Honestly I don't remember many of his sermons.

I watch Masses from my childhood parish, a beautiful church in Chicago, although sometimes I turn the volume down during the sermon if I don't want to hear anything about the pandemic or some weird metaphor or fable related to it.

I have been reading a letter every night for the last couple months, and there are only 58 letters, so now I'm done. He is very warm, very wise, and very kind. Most of these letters were written to lay women, and they are amazing and stand out because so much of classic Catholic spirituality wasn't written for us, it was written for monks and nuns. The Imitation of Christ and Interior Castle contain many things that are not useful to us, and even harmful.

But as for what spiritual needs we have now, in the middle of May, when some places are loosening restrictions even though the death toll keeps rising, this is from letter 57:

"Now, the will of God shows itself in two ways, by necessity and charity. I want to preach this Lent in a small corner of my diocese. If, however, I get ill or break my leg, I must not be grieved or disquieted because I cannot preach; for it is certainly the will of God that I should serve him by suffering and not by preaching."

"Spiridion, an ancient bishop, having received a pilgrim almost dead with hunger during Lent, and in a place in which there was nothing but salted meat, had some of this cooked and offered it to the pilgrim. The pilgrim was unwilling to take it in spite of his great necessity. Spiridion had no need of it, but he ate some first for charity, in order to remove by his example the scruple of the pilgrim. Here was a charitable liberty in this holy man."

St. John the Baptist "stayed... there in the desert, without going even once to see our Savior. Then he remains elsewhere to catechize, without going to Our Lord, and waits for Him to come. Afterward, having baptized our Lord, he does not follow Him, but stays to do his own work. Oh God! What a mortification of spirit! To be so near his Savior and not to see Him! To have Him so near and not to enjoy Him! And what is this but to have the heart free from all, even from God himself, to do the will of God and to serve Him? To leave God for God, and not to love God, in order so much the better and more purely to love Him! This example overwhelms my soul with its grandeur.

"I forgot to say that the will of God is known not only by necessity and charity, but by obedience, so that he who receives a command must believe that it is the will of God for him to obey it."

[ShepherdsDelight · Rating 5 out of 5]

92/100 (= 5.5/6) ≈ 5 Stars

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Wonderful advice for the spiritual life. Touching on minute details in all corners of the spiritual life, he can really guide someone in the spring cleaning of their souls. Great to just drink in his thought process, logic, spirituality and holiness, even if the particular letter at hand doesn't apply so much to our own state in life. Wonderful!

[Rebekah W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is spiritual reading to keep on one's nightstand forever.
In these difficult days, St. Francis de Sales never fails to illuminate dark corners, solve difficulties with a simple word, and provide consolation--or at least support--through difficult trials.
May God be praised for having given us such a saint!

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

St Francis de Sales offers sound advice in his letters written to people dealing with various struggles, which continue to challenge us today.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of letters written by St. Francis de Sales and organized by topic. St. Francis has so much wisdom to offer and with such charity. Like other reviewers mention, I love that so many of these letters are written to lay women. I really don’t know much about this saint at all, and chose this book after enjoying a book about St. John Bosco and then finding this one at a rummage sale. Anyway, not knowing the saint’s life, I really have very little context for these letters, but still felt enriched by them. Id love to learn more about St. Francis and also hope to read Introduction to the Devout Life soon.

[Tammy Schilling · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love St. Francis, I don't love this book. It's snippets of letters, or whole ones, and so doesn't really develop any thread for long, because each letter is a different topic. Most are in reply to another letter, so you're getting half of a conversation. For me, this book just never develops any flow.

[Rose Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully inspiring book in the format of letters to women by St. Francis de Sales, their spiritual director. He writes clearly with motivation and gives sound advice. I found many of the same spiritual issues in my own life as those of women in the 17th century.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[MaryMargaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good thoughts and surprisingly easy to understand from a man living in the 1600s. In France. Very useful stuff.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished just before his feast day! Spiritual direction offering consolation and peace for very practical and everyday situations. Down to earth holiness for the average; so encouraging.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Francis de Sales, a 17th-century French priest, was a spiritual director and "Dear Abby" of sorts. This is a lovely collection of his letters to people in various walks of life, from nuns to nobles to mothers of young children. He exudes a beautiful sense of grace and focus on love for the Lord, rather than adherence to rules. These letters were perfect to read piecemeal, while getting ready for bed or in between other books. I came away from reading this with precious reminders of God's great love for us and reminders to be patient with myself as I walk this life of faith.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How in the world is this not as eagerly passed around as “Introduction to the Devout Life”?! Little letters walking the reader through several categories: Prayer, Faith, and Accepting Your Vocation; Loving and Serving God in Your Daily Life; Bearing Your Cross; and Overcoming Fear, Temptation, Failure, and Discouragement.

It’s easy to read, but exactly what one needs to hear. Just lovely direction with the right amount of conviction and compassion. This would make an excellent gift to high school and up.

[Richard Magahiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of Christian spirituality made up of letters to various individuals seeking his advice. The most thoughtful and rigorous ones are the letters to Jane de Chantal who founded a religious order. I liked how the advice tended toward the more practical than the esoteric, and how he would sometimes counsel people to ease up on overly rigorous devotions for the sake of reasonableness. There are interesting glimpses of everyday life when he has to address those sorts of difficult life situations which we know from our own time. Despite the era in which these letters were written in the aftermath of the Counter-Reformation, there is virtually nothing here about doctrinal polemic as one might have expected.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this book can be helpful for one's soul.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can already tell I'm going to break the spine on this one. Thank God for this book.