Ste. Francois De Sales
The Introduction to the Devout Life.
My favorite book. (Although I’ve read it about 10 times in my life, I never live up to it.) Francis De Sales wrote for lay people. He is also the patron saint of journalists, and therefore bloggers.
His spirituality influenced St. Therese and the entire Martin family. Within his little book, “Introduction to the Devout Life” one may find evidence of the “Little Way” of St. Therese.
Opening St. Francis’ treatise, I came upon this:
“To scoff at others is one of the worst states a mind can be in. God destests this vice and in past times inflicted strange punishments on it. Nothing is so opposed to charity, and much more to devotion, than to despise and condemn one’s neighbor. Derision and mockery are always accompanied by scoffing, and it is a very great sin. Theologians consider it one of the worst offenses against one’s neighbor that a man can be guilty of. Other offenses may be committed with some esteem for the person offended, but by this he is treated with scorn and contempt.” - Introduction, III, 27
See - good advice for bloggers!
January 24th is the feastday of St. Francis De Sales.
January 23rd, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I love “Devout Life”. I’ve read it only once - during Advent - and even when I see excerpts, it still convicts me.
I think you can read this book for a lifetime and obtain new lessons constantly.
Please pray for me; tomorrow is his feast day and I’m teaching about Catholic customs and sacramentals. I’m no St. Francis de Sales, but I have taken him as one of my patrons (for writing), and clearly, he is a teacher as well.
The depths of his insights are truly amazing.
January 24th, 2007 at 8:16 am
good advice indeed for indeed for the growing snark of the blogoshpere.
January 24th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Uh-oh.
I should read that book. Adoro thinks its “heavy” but full of a lot of truth. Obviously, you like it too.