#1718: Ch. 12, Bk. 4, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with some good advice on sadness and depression.

Book 4, Chapter 12: On Sadness.

7:21.

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#1717: Ch. 11, Bk. 4, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with some good advice on worries.

Book 4, Chapter 11: On Anxiety.

8:35.

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#1716, Part 11 of On the Soul and the Resurrection by St. Gregory of Nyssa

On the Soul and the Resurrection continues, as St. Gregory of Nyssa talks with his dying(!) sister about stuff that doubters say about the Resurrection, continuing to ask her as his old teacher to assuage his fears about her passing.

The freaky thing is that St. Greg was apparently really bothered by the whole question of how it works to be resurrected, to the point of imparting all these complicated Greek worries that sound like Dr. McCoy and the transporter. I guess St. Macrina was used to her little brother freaking out, though. (Indeed, his life story lends one to suppose that he did fret and jump to weird conclusions about something weird all the time. This isn’t to say that he couldn’t be reasonable; he was a great theologian and teacher. But it took him a long hard road to get there, and in this case he may have reverted a bit, under stress.) It’s obvious that he has no hesitation about asking her this stuff; he’s not afraid at all that he might make her lose faith. There’s something very family about that.

Part 11.

36:53.

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#1715: Ch. 3, The Life of Sir Aglovale de Galis by Clemence Housman

The Life of Sir Aglovale de Galis continues, with a chapter full of secrets and intrigue, love and hate, and all the Arthurian mood you could ask for.

One thing I like very much about this chapter is that, though the author clearly is interested in the psychological ideas of her day, she doesn’t beat you over the head with this. Rather, she finds reasonable ways to express her ideas in the language (and cast of mind) of a courtly tale of knights and ladies, and hermits and bandits. A lot of historical and fantasy writers could learn from her.

Chapter 3.

29:45.

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#1714: Chs. 3-10, Bk. 4, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues with more chapters on the nature of temptation, and how to avoid or defeat it.

Book 4, Chapters 3-10.

32:50.

Happy St. Francis de Sales’ Day!

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#1713: Ch. 2, The Life of Sir Aglovale de Galis by Clemence Housman

The Life of Sir Aglovale de Galis continues, as we learn more about the events which brought glory and shame upon Sir Aglovale’s name.

Chapter 2. Includes Notes at end.

34:41.

Sorry that posting has been so spotty. I’ve been sick a lot lately.

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#1712: Chs. 1-2, Bk. 4, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, as we begin Book 4. Our good bishop encourages us not to care what people will say, and to have courage.

Book 4, Chapters 1-2.

11:00.

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