Salesian Literature
St. Francis de Sales: Patron of Writers and Journalists
[extract from Rebello, Noel MSFS. Salesian Spirituality: A source Book, pp. 14-16]
St. Francis de Sales was a prolific writer. The collection of his writings in French, known as the Complete Works (Oeuvres Completes) Annecy Edition number 26 volumes. Fr. Andre RAVIER insists that “St. Francis de Sales is the promoter of Christian action and commitment through genuine contemplation”; and advises that the Saint’s writings be read in the right perspective, namely, as a work born of lived experience, oriented toward meaningful action and leading to evangelical commitment.
“The writings of Francis de Sales, filled with celestial doctrine are a bright light in the Church, pointing out to souls an easy and safe way to arrive at the perfection of a Christian life” (Breviarium Romanum, 29 January, lect. VI).
A Spirituality for Everyone
St. Francis de Sales presents a spirituality that can be practised by everyone in all walks of life
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S A L E S I A N L I T E R A T U R E
For detailed Bibliography: Salesian Bibliography
For itemized Bibliography: Literature
The Following is a list of the principal works of St. Francis de Sales:
The Defence of the Standard of the Cross
Introduction to the Devout Life
The Controversies
During his mission to reconvert the inhabitants of the Chablais region, since people were forbidden to attend his preaching, Francis prepared handwritten leaflets on the Catholic faith, which he would slip under the doors of the houses of the Calvinists. These writings were collected into a book now known as The Catholic Controversy. By the end of his missionary apostolate, Francis had persuaded about 72,000 Calvinists to return to the Catholic Church.
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The Defence of the Standard of the Cross:
This constitutes an explanation of the practice of the veneration of the Holy Cross and expounds the significance of the Cross, the Crucifix and the Sign of the Cross in the Christian piety.
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The Introduction to the Devout Life
Addressed to Philothea, Francis exhorts all Christians regardless of differences of sex, age, fortune, or condition in life, to cultivate and reap the fruits of devotion. He insists that holiness is not the prerogative of one group or of another or of any one person, but an invitation and a command addressed to all those who bear the name of Christian. All Christians are bound to ascend the mountain of the Lord, although not by one and the same path. The practice of devotion must differ for the gentleman and the artisan, the servant and the prince, for the widow, young girl or wife. Further, it must be accommodated to their particular strength, circumstances, and duties (Pope Paul VI, Encyclical Sabaudiae Gemma, Fourth Centenary of St. Francis de Sales’ birth).
In the first part the author helps the soul to free itself from all inclination to, or affection for, sin; in the second part, he teaches it how to be united to God by prayer and the sacraments; in the third part, he exercises it in the practice of virtue; in the fourth part, he strengthens it against temptation; in the fifth part, he teaches it how to form its resolutions and to persevere. The “Introduction” is, in fact, a masterpiece of psychology, practical morality, and common sense.
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A Treatise on the Love of God
This treatise was written during the period when St. Francis de Sales had to assume manifold responsibilities – as Bishop, as Diplomat (in communication with the Senate of Savoy, and serving as the Duke’s emissary to the King of France), as Spiritual Director (to the Nuns of the Visitation, to numerous noblemen and lay persons), as a Counsellor (responding to [4000 letters] to diverse queries addressed to him).
The Treatise constitutes a manual for Devout souls (laity, priests and religious) desirous of attaining a higher degree of perfection in the Light of the Gospel, the teaching of the Fathers of the Church and the example of the Saints… It contains twelve books. The first four give us a history, or rather explain the theory, of Divine Love, its birth in the soul, its growth, its perfection, and its decay and annihilation; the fifth book shows that this love is twofold – the love of complacency and the love of benevolence; the sixth and seventh treat of affective love, which is practised in prayer; the eighth and ninth deal with effective love, that is, conformity to the will of God, and submission to His good pleasure. The last three resume what has preceded and teach how to apply practically the lessons taught therein.
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Spiritual Conferences
The Spiritual Conferences, given to the Sisters of the Visitation (established in 1610) in the course of his visits to their monasteries, constitutes the transcript by the Sisters of replies to personal questions on the practice of religious perfection and takes the form of spiritual direction given to the entire religious community. The Conferences (“Love’s gentle persuasion”) are considered by many as the “quintessence of the Salesian spirit, the highest peak of Salesian devotion, the secret of a very special way of loving God and human beings. We find in them that practical common sense, keenness of perception and delicacy of feeling which were characteristic of the kind-hearted and energetic Saint.
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Sermons
Francis delivered more than 4,000 sermons and was described as a preacher of power and charm. He was likewise effective in the spiritual direction of individuals. It is this activity that led to two of his accomplishments that have had perhaps the most dramatic, long term effect. To speak well we need only love well; and, tongue speaks only to the ear; but heart speaks to the heart: were his maxims. His sermons of Prayer, on Mary, on Advent and Lent have been published in English.
Sermons on PRAYER
These priceless sermons given by St. Francis de Sales in 1615 were diligently copied down by two nuns, both of whom had been blessed with excellent memories. They gathered up the saint’s words like precious manna. However, the sermons were not translated into English until centuries later, in our own decade, and in this book they are available to us for the very first time.
Sermons on OUR LADY
These priceless sermons given by St. Francis de Sales in 1615 were diligently copied down by two nuns, both of whom had been blessed with excellent memories. They gathered up the saint’s words like precious manna. However, the sermons were not translated into English until centuries later, in our own decade, and in this book they are available to us for the very first time.
Sermons for Advent and Christmas
Recognizing the central importance of the mystery of the Incarnation, God's becoming man, the holy bishop uses many figures and analogies to explain the mysterious union of the divine with the human nature in Our Lord. He also brings out many overlooked details regarding the mission of St. John the Baptist, in particular pointing out St. John's noble practice of absolute humility (a virtue of predilection for St. Francis de Sales) despite facing the greatest imaginable temptation to pride and ambition.
Sermons for Lent
In these sermons the true Christian attitude toward life comes into crystal clear focus on every page. Through them the reader will realize what it means to practice the virtues in all their purity, and will see the deep spiritual meanings which they have in the eyes of God.
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Letters
About 4,000 in all are addressed to persons from all walks of life – senators, bishops, nobility, religious – seeking counsel. Francis offered direction, and as minister of God effaces himself and teaches the soul to listen to God, the only true director. For him active work did not weaken his spiritual inner peace but strengthened it. He directed most people through letters, which tested his remarkable patience.
Letters to a Wife and Mother
In this pamphlet you are going to hear St. Francis de Sales converse through his letters to Madame Madeleine de la Fléchére, his cousin. They were about the same age and he became her spiritual director during the Lenten course of sermons he preached at Rumilly in France in 1608.
Thy will be done: Letters to persons in the world
These letters to persons in all walks of life show that the spiritual difficulties people had three hundred years ago are largely the same that you and I have today: impatience, anger, discouragement, difficulties in prayer, family strife, sickness, and fear of death.
Letters of Spiritual Direction
What is most obvious from this correspondence is that Jesus stands in the centre of the lives of both Francis and Jane. The love of God revealed in Jesus Christ pervades every line of the letters they both wrote. They are two people whose friendship is solidly anchored in their common love of God. It is a mediated friendship. There lies the secret of their freedom and their fruitfulness.
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The Canticle of Canticles
Francis incorporates and explains the depth and extent of love, giving a sure guide in the ways of mystical theology, where affective and effective love unite in leading us to devotion. May it so lead us to such a life, that we too may join with St. Francis de Sales in singing this greatest of all songs.
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There are also many other writings of St. Francis de Sales in which however we may no less discover “that heaven-sent doctrine which, like a stream of living water, has watered the vineyard of the Lord … and has helped greatly in achieving the well-being of the people of God” [Apostolic Letter Rerum Omnium of Pius IX, 16 November, 1877]. The books which he wrote are marked with an authentic wealth of doctrine, a profundity of thought, a natural beauty adorned with grace.
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In 1877, Pope Pius IX proclaimed St. Francis de Sales Doctor of the Universal Church. The enduring value and popularity of his writings led the Church later to bestow on him the tile Patron of Catholic Writers.
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