#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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#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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#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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#1711: Ch. 41, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with a very short chapter for the unmarried.

Book 3, Chapter 41.

1:31.

This winds up Book 3. So after this chapter, we move over to another detail page over at archive.org for the next book. This should make downloading and finding chapters faster, with any luck.

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#1710: Ch. 40, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with a chapter for widows who don’t intend to marry again.

Book 3, Chapter 40.

12:31.

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#1708: Chs. 38-39, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with two chapters of advice for married people. I think most people will agree with most of it. However, being French, our good bishop of course insists on explaining the Theology of the Body parts of marriage. (Several centuries before the current theology, of course; but it’s not as if JPII just made this stuff up on his own.)

So in Chapter 39 he explains this all by talking about good eating habits, and inviting the reader to learn by analogy. Completely decorous, completely obvious what he means. Very clever. Enjoy.

Book 3, Chapters 38-39.

25:42.

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#1698: Chs. 35-37, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with another chapter which helped inspire St. Therese of Lisieux’s Little Way. We also hear about not working ourselves up with currently-vain wishes, and about being fair to our neighbors while not giving ourselves too much slack.

Book 3, Chapters 35-37.

18:06.

I’m done with Christmas preparations, and I’ve got some days off. So I’ll see about catching up a little.

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#1697: Chs. 31-34, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues. In these chapters, we hear about helpful and unhelpful forms of recreation and games.

Book 3, Chs. 31-34.

13:53.

Yes, I know I’m falling behind something fierce. I’ll see what I can do.

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#1696: Chs. 29-30, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with more good advice on conversation, and a short course in how not to talk about people behind their backs.

Book 3,
Chapters 29-30.

17:54.

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#1693: Ch. 28, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with a chapter on judging other people. (Don’t do it.)

Book 3, Chapter 28.

13:28.

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#1689: Chs. 26-27, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with a discussion of how to talk with proper respect about God and one’s neighbor. We also learn that puns and jokes are saint-tested and saint-approved. 🙂

Bk. 3, Chs. 26-27.

8:32.

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#1687: Chs. 24-25, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, as we discuss socializing and what to wear. Hint: the saint thinks you can figure out how to dress yourself. He is not your mommy. 🙂

Book 3, Chapters 24-25.

10:40.

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#1683: Ch. 23, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, as St. Francis talks a bit about external or bodily mortification, including stuff like fasting, abstinence, etc. (And hairshirts.) He’s not really all that hep on mortification as an extreme sport. In fact, he’s got a much better idea.

So it’s very plain to see how St. Therese of Lisieux was influenced by St. Francis de Sales in developing her “Little Way”. If eating whatever is set before you, regardless of your own wants, is more of a mortification than extreme fasting, the same principle quickly carries over to other preferences in daily life.

Of course, it could be pointed out that they’re both very French in thinking this way about food preferences. I’m sure the Food Network foodies would agree on how much a mortification of desires this would be to a gourmet. 🙂

Book 3, Chapter 23.

14:18.

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#1679: Chs. 21-22, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with advice on what to do about bad friendships, some more general talk about friendships good and bad, and your duties to friends and yourself.

Book 3, Chapters 21-22.

13:54.

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