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The Complete Fenelon
The most engaging collection of the French mystics’ writings now available
Twenty-first century Christians are now discovering the wisdom of this controversial theologian and spiritual thinker. Fénelon showed how it was possible to have devotion and faith in the original Age of Reason. In many respects, rationality still rules today in religion and culture, and as a result, Fénelon speaks to modern Christians wanting deeper faith and a meaningful inner life.
His writings have never been as accessible as they are now in these lively new translations. The Complete Fénelon includes more than one hundred of Fénelon’s letters of spiritual counsel, as well as meditations on eighty-five other topics. Also translated here into English for the first time are Fénelon’s personal reflections on twenty-one seasons and holidays of the Christian year. An introduction from bestselling translator Robert J. Edmonson and in-depth recommended reading and bibliography make this the first place to start in any study of Francois Fénelon.
Twenty-first century Christians are now discovering the wisdom of this controversial theologian and spiritual thinker. Fénelon showed how it was possible to have devotion and faith in the original Age of Reason. In many respects, rationality still rules today in religion and culture, and as a result, Fénelon speaks to modern Christians wanting deeper faith and a meaningful inner life.
His writings have never been as accessible as they are now in these lively new translations. The Complete Fénelon includes more than one hundred of Fénelon’s letters of spiritual counsel, as well as meditations on eighty-five other topics. Also translated here into English for the first time are Fénelon’s personal reflections on twenty-one seasons and holidays of the Christian year. An introduction from bestselling translator Robert J. Edmonson and in-depth recommended reading and bibliography make this the first place to start in any study of Francois Fénelon.
310 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2008
92 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
François Fénelon
1,723 books70 followersFrançois de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, a Roman Catholic theologian and poet, wrote in France. He today is remembered mostly as one of the main advocates of quietism and as the author of The Adventures of Telemachus, a scabrous attack on the French monarchy, first published in 1699.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 29, 2014
This is a deep, spiritual devotional book written by a 17th century French nobleman. Despite Fenelon's sometimes unorthodox views, I believe all Christians can benefit greatly from this text. It really is on another level from most Christian books and people you would meet in today's world.
Fenelon emphasizes detachment from the world, and an utter abandonment of self-will in favor of God's will. Really, it is a reorienting of our own will with God's. I suggest reading a passage or two each day (lectio divina), praying and contemplating the passage to make it more than words in the mind, but that it becomes integrated with who we are.
If Christians would undertake such a discipline each day, and try to consciously determine whether each thought and action is in conformity with God's will for their lives, this world would be dramatically transformed, just as it was in the days of the early disciples.
Fenelon emphasizes detachment from the world, and an utter abandonment of self-will in favor of God's will. Really, it is a reorienting of our own will with God's. I suggest reading a passage or two each day (lectio divina), praying and contemplating the passage to make it more than words in the mind, but that it becomes integrated with who we are.
If Christians would undertake such a discipline each day, and try to consciously determine whether each thought and action is in conformity with God's will for their lives, this world would be dramatically transformed, just as it was in the days of the early disciples.
December 21, 2019
A good book by a Roman Catholic Frenchman who was the tutor of royalty. Recommended by Fr. Hopko. Fénelon talks a lot about denying the self so as to become more alive in Christ.
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March 20, 2020I am giving this work my very rare three-exclamation-point rating.
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November 8, 2020
I love reading old books. It’s funny how he seemed to feel the same hundreds of years ago and we do today. I believe the issues are in our hearts, not our circumstances.
August 15, 2022
I grabbed a copy of Francois’ writings after having read that he had a profound impact on A. W. Tozer, whose work I find almost unparalleled in the realm of Christian theological perspective.
It’s quite interesting to note that the differences between the lives of Fenelon and Tozer could not be greater. Fenelon was a 17th century French Catholic and was born into high society. On the other hand, Tozer was an early 20th century Midwest American farm boy who didn’t finish high school and never went to seminary. Yet somehow these two men came to realize the Truth in the Bible in the deepest, most intimate, seemingly identical fashion.
I recommend this book for anyone desiring to bear their cross for Christ, as its wisdom is both enlightening but also surprisingly applicable to life in the modern world.
“We think we are far away from the world when we are in a place of quiet religious retreat. But we still speak the world's language. We have its feelings and curiosities. We still want a reputation and friendships. We want to be entertained. We still have high-minded opinions of ourselves. We still suffer the slightest humiliations with great indignation. We say we want to forget the world, but in the depths of our hearts we do not want to be forgotten by it. We are searching to no avail when we try to find a halfway point between Jesus Christ and the world. As the apostle Paul said, it is not enough for the world to be dead to us. We must also be dead to it.” - Francois Fenelon
It’s quite interesting to note that the differences between the lives of Fenelon and Tozer could not be greater. Fenelon was a 17th century French Catholic and was born into high society. On the other hand, Tozer was an early 20th century Midwest American farm boy who didn’t finish high school and never went to seminary. Yet somehow these two men came to realize the Truth in the Bible in the deepest, most intimate, seemingly identical fashion.
I recommend this book for anyone desiring to bear their cross for Christ, as its wisdom is both enlightening but also surprisingly applicable to life in the modern world.
“We think we are far away from the world when we are in a place of quiet religious retreat. But we still speak the world's language. We have its feelings and curiosities. We still want a reputation and friendships. We want to be entertained. We still have high-minded opinions of ourselves. We still suffer the slightest humiliations with great indignation. We say we want to forget the world, but in the depths of our hearts we do not want to be forgotten by it. We are searching to no avail when we try to find a halfway point between Jesus Christ and the world. As the apostle Paul said, it is not enough for the world to be dead to us. We must also be dead to it.” - Francois Fenelon
September 12, 2023
This was good. I had not heard of Francois Fenelon before but I read an excerpt of his in a newsletter a few weeks ago and was interested in reading more. Books like this are tough for me because I have a hard time re-focusing my attention with every new idea. This books is basically short essays or devotionals from Fenelon and so there are new thoughts and themes every chapter. Overall though I took some good things from it and will probably read it again sometime.
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October 15, 2023“Your spiritual progress is more hindered by your excessive fear of giving way to enjoyment in ordinary, innocent things, than it ever could be by the enjoyment itself.”, p. 8
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews