58 letters to souls troubled by problems that afflict each of us today: anger, frustration, grief and sickness; difficulties praying and even lack of faith — with wise, practical remedies for each
How to do God's will joyfully - regardless of your circumstances!
St. Francis de Sales can help you with exhaustion, sickness, anger, impatience, the death of loved ones, family strife, difficulties in praying, and other problems.
No matter what your situation may be, you'll find simple, practical, holy advice here. You'll learn how God wants you to deal with troubles . . . and how to gain the patience and strength to do so.
Three centuries ago, people flocked to this holy pastor, seeking his help for their problems. St. Francis spent thousands of hours ministering to them face-to-face and wrote over 20,000 letters!
From this correspondence with persons in many countries and from all walks of life, we've selected those letters which will be most helpful to you today. Each is a hand-written response to someone like you seeking help with an actual problem. You'll be consoled by the warmth, the wisdom, and the holy sympathy you'll find in these letters as the love of this great saint reaches out to us across the centuries.
Whatever your circumstances, there's wisdom here from St. Francis de Sales to make your life holier . . . and happier.
Solutions to common troubles . . .
Family problems - how to keep calm, and even use troubles to improve your family
Anxiety about the future: your job, your children, anything at all. It canbe overcome!
Your flaws - the right response to them. Plus, ways to bear those you can't overcome
Flagrant sinners - how you must act around them
Family, work, prayer: which should come first? How to set your priorities
Prayer: do you pray too much?St. Francis helps you decide
Three criteria for judging pastimes. Do you really know which are spiritually healthy and which are dangerous?
Helplessness: coping when you're not in control, especially during times of sickness or loneliness
The roots of heresy - why you must understand Scripture in light of Church teachings
The death of loved ones - how should a Christian respond?
Humility: it's the beginning of virtue, but can you tell it from its counterfeit?
Temptation and sin: how to turn them into spiritual victories
Wisdom for difficult situations . . .
To a pious wife: how to be devout without irritating your husband
To an old man: solid wisdom on how to prepare for death
To a newlywed, teaching the duties of married life and how to fulfill them
To a new widow who finds lifealone a terrible burden
To a pregnant woman, tired, sick, and discouraged, who thinks she doesn't pray enough
To a married woman trying to bear patiently her live-in parents-in-law
To a childless woman, helping her to accept this sorrow
To a nervous woman, showing her how to be less troubled
To a businessman, showing him how to find God in his busy life
To a young man, showing him how to begin to fulfill his religious duty by treating his parents better
. . . plus help for dozens of other problems we all face!
"Francis de Sales modeled himself so closely on our Lord that many times I asked myself withastonishment how, considering human frailty, a mere creature could reach so high a degree of perfection." —St. Vincent de Paul
"He seemed to have been sent especially by God. A great saint, remarkable not only for the holiness of his life, but for the wisdom with which he directed souls." —Pope Pius XI
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), a bishop and a Doctor of the Church, was remarkable not only for his holiness, but also for the wisdom with which he directed souls in the way of sanctity. Throughout his life, he worked tirelessly to win souls to the Church and to build within the Church a community of devout persons living lives of Christian perfection in all their varied states and vocations.
Profile Born in a castle to a well-placed family, his parents intended that he become a lawyer, enter politics, and carry on the family line and power. Studied at La Roche, Annecy, Clermont College in Paris, and law at the University of Padua. Doctor of Law. He returned home, and found a position as Senate advocate.
It was at this point that he received a message telling him to "Leave all and follow Me." He took this as a call to the priesthood, a move his family fiercely opposed. However, he pursued a devoted prayer life, and his gentle ways won over the family.
Priest. Provost of the diocese of Geneva, Switzerland, a stronghold of Calvinists. Preacher, writer and spiritual director in the district of Chablais. His simple, clear explanations of Catholic doctrine, and his gentle way with everyone, brought many back to the Roman Church.
Bishop of Geneva at age 35. Travelled and evangelized throughout the Duchy of Savoy, working with children whenever he could. Friend of Saint Vincent de Paul. Turned down a wealthy French bishopric. Helped found the Order of the Visitation with Saint Jeanne de Chantal. Prolific correspondent. Doctor of the Church.
Born 1567 at Chateau of Thorens, Savoy
Died 28 December 1622 at Lyons, France; buried at Annecy
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