Introduction to the Devout Life

St. Francis of Sales, the Bishop of Geneva, wrote these letters of spiritual encouragement to his cousin Madame Marie de Charmoisy, whom he addressed as Philothea (The Lover of God). This superb classic is useful both as a spiritual guide for Christians in the modern day, and as a historical account of how monastic orders operated during the late Renaissance period. We hear of how St. Francis developed and honed his affinity to God through reading the spiritual texts, praying daily, developing virtues and resisting the many temptations of life. The letters are wide-ranging; lessons on the immortality of the soul; instructions upon how to live in a moral and upstanding way; avoiding and defeating dalliances and temptations; best practices one can undertake before, during and after prayer time; and various meditations upon the divine are comprise a few of the topics St. Francis discusses. As their wise correspondence was regular, a monastic colleague of St. Francis suggested that it be published.