Catholic Thought discussion

Born in France in 1567, St. Francis de Sales became a Bishop of Geneva in 1602 and therefore was at the epicenter of Catholic/Protestant conflicts over theology. As a young man he considered himself brash, but in time was able to discipline himself to have the temperament of Christ, and his patience, knowledge, and communication skills enabled him to bring back many to the Church. Francis died in 1622 and was beatified in 1665. Among other patronages, he is regarded as the patron saint of writers.

His Introduction to the Devout Life, published in 1609, is regarded as one of the best spiritual guides. He states the need for the book in the first chapter:

You aim at a devout life, dear child, because as a Christian you know that such devotion is most acceptable to God's Divine Majesty. But seeing that the small errors people are wont to commit in the beginning of any under taking are apt to wax greater as they advance, and to become irreparable at last, it is most important that you should thoroughly understand wherein lies the grace of true devotion;--and that because while there undoubtedly is such a true devotion, there are also many spurious and idle semblances thereof; and unless you know which is real, you may mistake, and waste your energy in pursuing an empty, profitless shadow.

The book aims to show how true devotion can be best obtained.

I'll try to add more to the Introduction as the week goes on. Let's try to read Book 1. You can find the book in English on line here:
https://www.catholicity.com/devoutlife/

Yesterday was the feast of St. Louise de Marillac, who was close to St. Francis de Sales and St. Vincent de Paul, all major saints who were living in a time of great evils like our own. She had a very rich and full life, and I am curious to see if she shows up in this book (Philothea?)

LOL! There must have been a software goblin at work here.
Here are the GR options:
1) You can either go into each comment with the edit option and delete the content of the message, or
2) I can delete them. Moderators have a delete "button" for each message posted - which I have never had any reason to use :-)

Thanks, Kerstin. There was no "edit" on my Kindle when I first posted, and it kept saying there was a trouble with my post. I tried again and got the repeats! Now I'm on our PC and I see the edit option. Will file that in the brain for future reference. I also reported the "goblin" to the "Contact us" option!

Madeleine wrote: "Yesterday was the feast of St. Louise de Marillac, who was close to St. Francis de Sales and St. Vincent de Paul, all major saints who were living in a time of great evils like our own. She had a v..."

I have perused two different translations, and one addresses Philothea and the other addresses her indirectly as "my child" or along those lines.

Madeleine wrote: "Thanks, Kerstin. There was no "edit" on my Kindle when I first posted, and it kept saying there was a trouble with my post. I tried again and got the repeats! Now I'm on our PC and I see the edit o..."

Great!
There always seem to be restrictions to an application when you go through a kindle or tablet. I've never tried to see if goodreads even works on my ancient kindle, lol!

Kerstin wrote: "Madeleine wrote: "Thanks, Kerstin. There was no "edit" on my Kindle when I first posted, and it kept saying there was a trouble with my post. I tried again and got the repeats! Now I'm on our PC an..."

I have one of those "ancient" Kindles too. I never tried either, It does on the current Kindles.

The Kindle I have is less than 2 years old, but it came with the Goodreads app already on it. One would think the app would have all the bells and whistles?

My takeaway from the Introduction is how St. Francis immediately offers some powerful advice and help on how to undertake a spiritual journey straightaway. He refers to this work a little later as “practice” and “a spiritual retreat” and it is intended for all: “my object is to teach those who are living in towns, at court, in their own households, and whose calling obliges them to a social life, so far as externals are concerned." (p. 2) He believes that a “true steadfast soul may live in the world untainted by worldly breath, finding a well-spring of holy piety amid the bitter waves of society.” (p. 6)

(“The bitter waves” are growing ever more bitter. Goodreads was absent from intrusive ads but not so now. Each time I jump a screen even here a disturbing colorful ad flashes on the right side.)

St. Francis gives a useful summary of the five parts of his Introduction which I found helpful in going through this writing to check myself if I am still staying in focus of his intention.

(Philothea means “liking God” from French and Greek. This was apparently, what St. Francis used originally but later translators substituted daughter or child.)

Galicius wrote: "“The bitter waves” are growing ever more bitter. Goodreads was absent from intrusive ads but not so now. Each time I jump a screen even here a disturbing colorful ad flashes on the right side."

I have an adblocker added to my browser. For the most part those ads are absent when I'm online, including goodreads.

In the introduction to my copy, it is stated that the book has never been out of print.

Kerstin wrote: I have an adblocker added to my browser..."

Thank you for the information. Can you please provide the URL to the ad blocker?

I am only a few chapters in, but paused to reflect on St. Francis's suggestion to have a spiritual adviser, or have a single confessor. Decades ago I did have one priest for a time until he left the parish and my confessions became less frequent. I believe I now confess to at least five different priests in the course of a year, and while I see many advantages to bring a member of a large parish, having access to one who really knows me, or even knows my name, would be very difficult, and if there is a priest I would choose and he would be ok with it, he is subject to frequent transfers from one diocese after another. Also few priests today have that kind of time to devote to single parishioners. A nice idea, but perhaps might it be just as valuable to be in my situation? I have been impressed with some of the younger priests and their suggestions as well as a few creative penances, not those three Hail Mary's you can rattle off before heading to the parking lot but something to be worked on through the week.

Madeleine wrote: "Oops Francis. Don't have edit feature on this device!"

LOL, I find some spelling and auto-correct errors funny. St Fanchise! Hahaha.

Madeleine, why don't you copy it, correct it, and paste it into Part 1 folder I just set up. And then just delete that comment from here. That seems like more of a comment for Part 1 than for Introduction.

Madeleine wrote: "I am only a few chapters in, but paused to reflect on St. Franchise's suggestion to have a spiritual adviser, or have a single confessor. Decades ago I did have one priest for a time until he left ..."

This is the frequent advice I read in spiritual writing from past centuries, St. Alphonsus, St. Francis. I think times have changed much and I would be highly surprised if anyone has access to a single spiritual adviser or confessor.

Galicius wrote: "Kerstin wrote: I have an adblocker added to my browser..."

Thank you for the information. Can you please provide the URL to the ad blocker?"

There are all different types that work as an add-on to the browser you use. Ablock Plus is a common one. https://adblockplus.org/ Though when you google it there may be others that work better with your particular browser.

Manny wrote: "Madeleine wrote: "Oops Francis. Don't have edit feature on this device!"

LOL, I find some spelling and auto-correct errors funny. St Fanchise! Hahaha.

Madeleine, why don't you copy it, correct it..."

Done! I thought St. Franchise was pretty funny too.

Kerstin wrote: "Galicius wrote: "Kerstin wrote: I have an adblocker added to my browser..."

Thank you for the information. Can you please provide the URL to the ad blocker?"

There are all different types that wo..."

Thanks for that adblocker Kerstin. I just downloaded it. Let's see if it makes a difference.

Kerstin wrote: "Galicius wrote: "Kerstin wrote: I have an adblocker added to my browser..."

Thank you for the information. Can you please provide the URL to the ad blocker?"

There are all different types that wo..."

Thank you much Kerstin.