Of the Love of God

by Saint Francis de Sales

38 chapters18h 50mEnglish1888

About this book

Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Bishop of Geneva from 1602, was a renowned spiritual director who produced two classic guidebooks for earthly wayfarers on their spiritual journey to God: Introduction a la vie devote (Introduction to the Devout Life, 1609) and Traite' de l'amour de Dieu (Treatise on the Love of God, or Of the Love of God, 1616). In the Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis shows how anyone, whatever his or her calling or station in life, can strive for and achieve a life a piety and devotion to God. It is filled with commonsense spiritual wisdom. Of the Love of God is a more detailed manual for those who are already somewhat advanced on their spiritual journey and are under the care of a personal spiritual director. In this work, he describes the nature of divine love (Bk. II), the manner in which love is perfected in the lover (Bk. III), and the ways in which love can be diminished or lost (Bk. IV). He explains that divine love operates in the soul by acts of complacency and benevolence (Bk. V) and shows how this love is practiced through prayer and meditation (Bk. VI). Divine love, perfected by prayer, leads to union with God (Bk. VII), conformity of the soul's will with the divine will (Bk. VIII), submission to the will of God (Bk. IX), and love of God above all created things (Bk. X). He illustrates how the virtues operate in a soul that has reached this spiritual plateau (Bk. XI) and concludes by offering practical counsels on how best to journey on the road to eternal union with God (Bk. XII). Because of Saint Francis's keen spiritual insights and theological rectitude, Pope Pius IX in 1877 declared him a doctor of the Catholic Church. (Introduction by dave7)

Chapters (37)

101 – Bk. I, Introduction, 1-6

2153

202 – Bk. I, Introduction, 7-11

2377

303 – Bk. I, Introduction, 12-18

1892

404 – Bk. II, The Origin of Divine Love, 1-6

1970

505 – Bk. II, The Origin of Divine Love, 7-11

1927

606 – Bk. II, The Origin of Divine Love, 12-16

1850

707 – Bk. II, The Origin of Divine Love, 17-22

2141

808 – Bk. III, The Progress and Perfection of Love, 1-4

1897

909 – Bk. III, The Progress and Perfection of Love, 5-8

1301

1010 – Bk. III, The Progress and Perfection of Love, 9-15

1610

1111 – Bk. IV, The Decay and Ruin of Charity, 1-6

2308

1212 – Bk. IV, The Decay and Ruin of Charity, 7-11

1843

1313 – Bk. V, Complacency and Benevolence, 1-6

2255

1414 – Bk. V, Complacency and Benevolence, 7-12

2075

1515 – Bk. VI, Holy Love in Prayer and Meditation, 1-4

2059

1616 – Bk. VI, Holy Love in Prayer and Meditation, 5-8

1699

1717 – Bk. VI, Holy Love in Prayer and Meditation, 9-12

1451

1818 – Bk. VI, Holy Love in Prayer and Meditation, 13-15

1614

1919 – Bk. VII, The Union of the Soul with Its God, 1-4

1971

2020 – Bk. VII, The Union of the Soul with Its God, 5-9

1944

2121 – Bk. VII, The Union of the Soul with Its God, 10-14

1602

2222 – Bk. VIII, The Love of Conformity, 1-5

1623

2323 – Bk. VIII, The Love of Conformity, 6-10

2013

2424 – Bk. VIII, The Love of Conformity, 11-14

1464

2525 – Bk. IX, The Love of Submission, 1-5

1605

2626 – Bk. IX, The Love of Submission, 6-10

1887

2727 – Bk. IX, The Love of Submission, 11-16

1972

2828 – Bk. X, The Command to Love God Above All Things, 1-5

1758

2929 – Bk. X, The Command to Love God Above All Things, 6-10

1605

3030 – Bk. X, The Command to Love God Above All Things, 11-14

1499

3131 – Bk. X, The Command to Love God Above All Things, 15-17

1381

3232 – Bk. XI, The Supreme Authority of Love, 1-6

1885

3333 – Bk. XI, The Supreme Authority of Love, 7-11

2068

3434 – Bk. XI, The Supreme Authority of Love, 12-17

2022

3535 – Bk. XI, The Supreme Authority of Love, 18-21

1887

3636 – Bk. XII, Counsels, 1-6

1121

3737 – Bk. XII, Counsels, 7-13

1411

Of the Love of God

About this book

Chapters (37)

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