Last week we recommended Thomas a Kempis’ classic on the spiritual life “The Imitation of Christ” as a possible choice of “just the right book” for summertime park- bench or seaside leisure/spiritual reading. This week’s selection, “An Introduction to the Devout Life” (sometimes called “Philothea”), by St. Francis De Sales (1567- 1622) is another of those great spiritual classics which need not be read in its entirety. An afternoon of skimming or “skipping around” through it can prove very profitable for the curious reader interested in deepening his relationship with God.
Unlike the “Imitation”, written by a monk for fellow monks, the “Introduction to the Devout Life” was written specifically for the average Christian living and working in the world. Its author was convinced of the truth that all people in all states of life are called to perfection and holiness. As a parish priest, and later as a bishop, St. Francis recognized that the souls entrusted to his care needed some guidance along the path to perfection just as much as priests and religious, for whom most spiritual works up to that time had been written.
By the terms “true devotion”, and “the devout life” the author means love of God in its highest, most perfect form. “Charity” (i.e. divine love) leads us to obey God’s commandments. But “devotion” leads us to obey God’s commandments “earnestly, frequently, and readily”. In other words, the goal of the devout life is to move from a love of God motivated by a sense of fear, duty, or obligation, to a love of God which is the result of charity (i.e. divine love, or grace) actually working within us. This movement is accomplished by God, but the soul must dispose itself, or give itself over to God if this “work” is to be accomplished. “An Introduction to the Devout Life” aims to help the soul allow itself to be perfected by giving itself over to the transformative power of divine love, i.e. grace.
The book is divided into five parts. “Part First” describes the nature of this “true devotion” and the fact that all are called to be devout (compare the “universal call to holiness” described in the documents of the Second Vatican Council). Having been purified from mortal sin, the soul seeks communion with God by means of various forms of prayer (Part Second). “Part Third” addresses the practice of the virtues in everyday situations, i.e. how to be patient, humble, obedient, chaste, etc. in conversation, dress, amusements, and friendships. The fourth part of the book includes an excellent discussion of the difference between feeling temptation and yielding to it. “Part Fifth” deals with maintaining the devout life once having been introduced to it, and having begun the practice of it.
“An Introduction to the Devout Life” by St. Francis De Sales is available from TAN Publishers, among others.
