Spiritual Reading

 

A sign in Annecy, France, the hometown of St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales classic book on the spiritual life for lay people is, of course, "The Introduction to the Devout Life". Have you read it? My copy is full of underlining (in pencil, of course!). I really should read it again and see if the same passages jump out at me now, in my current stage of life.

He wrote the book for a laywoman, and she was so impressed with his advice that she encouraged him to publish it and share it with others. He changed the name of the person he was addressing to "Philothea", which means "lover of God", so that he is speaking to us, his readers, in each chapter. The sign shown above hangs on the home of the woman who originally received the gift of this advice: the original "Philothea".

What better week than Holy Week to cultivate a habit of spiritual reading? If we turned off all our screens and spent a little extra time with a good book, imagine the benefits!

Bishop Jean Pierre Camus was mentored by St. Francis de Sales personally as well. They were contemporaries. He wrote:

"[St. Francis de Sales] recommended spiritual reading as a food for the soul which is attainable at all times, and need never fail...He advised us to be provided with works of piety, as so many incentives to Divine Love, and to let no day pass without using them. He would have such books read with great and respectful devotion, as so many letters sent from Heaven by the Saints, in order to lead us thither, and strengthen us by the way."

The saint particularly recommended Louis de Blois, St. Bonaventure, St. Teresa of Avila, Dom Scupoli, St. Augustine, St. Jerome and others.