Introduction to the Devout Life


First published in the early 17th century, it has proven its value as a daily spiritual guide and helpful reference for living an authentic Christian life. Written specifically for laymen, it began as letters from Saint Francis to a married woman who was seeking holiness amidst the distractions of her life of wealth and status. It contains treasures of wisdom for every reader, from eager beginner to lifelong Christian. Summary by Wikipedia and Phil Chenevert. (10 hr 11 min)

Chapters

Preface by the Author
Part I COUNSELS FOR THE SOUL'S GUIDANCE Ch 1: What True Devotion is
Part 1 Ch 2. The Nature and Excellence of Devotion..
Part 1 Ch 3 Devotion is suitable to every Vocation and Profession
Part 1 Ch 4.The Need of a Guide for those who would enter upon and advance in t…
Part 1 Ch 5. The First Step must be Purifying the Soul.
Part 1 Ch 6. The First Purification, namely, from Mortal Sin.
Part 1 Ch 7. The Second Purification, from all Sinful Affections.
Part 1 Ch 8. How to effect this Second Purification
Part 1 Ch 9. First Meditation Of the End for which we were Created
Part 1 Ch 10. Second Meditation-Of the End for which we were Created
Part 1 Ch 11. Third Meditation - On the Gifts of God.
Part 1 Ch 12. Fourth Meditation.- On Sin
Part 1 Ch 13. Fifth Meditation - Of Death
Part 1 Ch 14 - Sixth Meditation - Of Judgment
Part 1 Ch. 15 - Seventh Meditation - Of Hell
Part 1 Ch. 16 - Eighth Meditation - On Paradise
Part 1 Ch. 17 - Ninth Meditation - On the Choice Between Heaven and Hell
Part 1 Ch 18 - Tenth Meditation - How the Soul chooses the Devout Life.
Part 1 Ch 19 - How to make a General Confession.
Part 1 Ch 20 - A hearty Protest made with the object of confirming the Soul’s r…
Part 1 Ch 21 - Conclusion of this First Purification.
Part 1 Ch 22 - The Necessity of Purging away all tendency to Venial Sins.
Part 1 Ch 23 - It is needful to put away all Inclination for Useless and Danger…
Part 1 Ch 24 - All Evil Inclinations must be purged away.
Part 2 COUNCILS ON THE NECESSITY OF UPLIFTING THE SOUL TO GOD - Ch 1 - The Nece…
Part 2 Ch 2 - A short Method of Meditation. And first, the Presence of God, the…
Part 2 Ch 3 - Invocation, the Second Point of Preparation.
Part 2 Ch 4 - the Third Point of Preparation, representing the Mystery to be me…
Part 2 Ch 5 - Considerations, the Second Part of Meditation.
Part 2 Ch 6 - The Third Part of Meditation, Affections and Resolutions.
Part 2 Ch 7 - The Conclusion and Spiritual Bouquet
Part 2 Ch 8 - Some Useful Hints as to Meditation.
Part 2 Ch 9 - Concerning Dryness in Meditation.
Part 2 Ch 10 - Morning Prayer.
Part 2 Ch 11 - Evening Prayer and Examination of Conscience
Part 2 Ch 12 - On Spiritual Retirement.
Part 2 Ch 13 - Aspirations, Ejaculatory Prayer and Holy Thoughts.
Part 2 Ch 14 - Of Holy Communion, and how to join in it.
Part 2 Ch 15 - Of the other Public Offices of the Church.
Part 2 Ch 16 - How the Saints are united to us.
Part 2 Ch 17 - How to Hear and Read God’s Word.
Part 2 Ch 18 - How to receive Inspirations.
Part 2 Ch 19 - On Confession
Part 2 Ch 20 - Of Frequent Communion.
Part 2 Ch 21 - How to Communicate.
Part 3 THE PRACTICE OF VIRTUE - Ch 1 - How to select that which we should chief…
Part 3 Ch 2 - The same Subject continued.
Part 3 Ch 3 - On Patience.
Part 3 Ch 4 - On Greater Humility
Part 3 Ch 5 - On Interior Humility.
Part 3 Ch 6 - Humility makes us rejoice in our own Abjection.
Part 3 Ch 7 - How to combine due care for a Good Reputation with Humility
Part 3 Ch 8 - Gentleness towards others and Remedies against Anger.
Part 3 Ch 9 - On Gentleness towards Ourselves
Part 3 Ch 10 - We must attend to the Business of Life carefully, but without E…
Part 3 Ch 11 - On Obedience.
Part 3 Ch 12 - On Purity.
Part 3 Ch 13 - How to maintain Purity.
Part 3 Ch 14 - On Poverty of Spirit amid Riches.
Part 3 Ch 15 - How to exercise real Poverty, although actually Rich.
Part 3 Ch 16 - How to possess a rich Spirit amid real Poverty.
Part 3 Ch 17 - On Friendship: Evil and Frivolous Friendship.
Part 3 Ch 18 - On Frivolous Attachments
Part 3 Ch 19 - Of Real Friendship.
Part 3 Ch 20 - Of the Difference between True and False Friendship.
Part 3 Ch 21 - Remedies against Evil Friendships.
Part 3 Ch 22 - Further Advice concerning Intimacies.
Part 3 Ch 23 - On The Practice of Bodily Mortification.
Part 3 Ch 24 - Of Society and Solitude.
Part 3 Ch 25 - On Modesty in Dress.
Part 3 Ch 26 - Of Conversation; and, first, how to Speak of God
Part 3 Ch 27 - Of Unseemly Words, and the Respect due to Others.
Part 3 Ch 28 - Of Hasty Judgments.
Part 3 Ch 29 - On Slander.
Part 3 Ch 30 - Further Counsels as to Conversation.
Part 3 Ch 31 - Of Amusements and Recreations: what are allowable.
Part 3 Ch 32 - Of Forbidden Amusements.
Part 3 Ch 33 - Of Balls, and other Lawful but Dangerous Amusements.
Part 3 Ch 34 - When to use such Amusements rightly.
Part 3 Ch 35 - We must be Faithful in Things Great and Small.
Part 3 Ch 36 - Of a Well-Balanced, Reasonable Mind.
Part 3 Ch 37 - Of Wishes.
Part 3 Ch 38 - Counsels to Married People.
Part 3 Ch 39 - The Sanctity of the Marriage Bed.
Part 3 Ch 40 - Counsels to Widows.
Part 3 Ch 41 - One Word to Maidens.
Part 4 CONCERNING ORDINARY TEMPTATIONS - Ch 1 We must not trifle with the Words…
Part 4 Ch 2 - The need of a Good Courage
Part 4 Ch 3 - Of Temptations, and the difference between experiencing them and …
Part 4 Ch 4 - Two striking Illustrations of the same
Part 4 Ch 5 - Encouragement for the Tempted Soul.
Part 4 Ch 6 - When Temptation and Delectation are Sin.
Part 4 Ch 7 - Remedies for Great Occasions.
Part 4 Ch 8 - How to resist Minor Temptations.
Part 4 Ch 9 - How remedy Minor Temptations.
Part 4 Ch 10 - How to strengthen the Heart against Temptation.
Part 4 Ch 11 - Anxiety of Mind.
Part 4 Ch 12 - Of Sadness and Sorrow.
Part 4 Ch 13 - Of Spiritual and Sensible Consolations, and how to receive them.
Part 4 Ch 14 - Of Dryness and Spiritual Barrenness
Part 4 Ch 15 - An Illustration.
Part 5 PRACTICES FOR RENEWING AND CONFIRMING THE SOUL IN DEVOTION. Ch 1 - It i…
Part 5 Ch 2 - Meditation on the Benefit conferred on us by God in calling us to…
Part 5 Ch 3 - Examination of the Soul as to its Progress in the Devout Life
Part 5 Ch 4 - Examination of the Soul’s Condition as regards God.
Part 5 Ch 5 - Examination of your Condition as regards yourself.
Part 5 Ch 6 - Examination of the Soul’s Condition as regards our Neighbour.
Part 5 Ch 7 - Examination as to the Affectations of the Soul.
Part 5 Ch 8 - The Affections to be excited after such Examination.
Part 5 Ch 9 - Reflections suitable to the renewal of Good Resolutions.
Part 5 Ch 10 - First Consideration—of the Worth of Souls.
Part 5 Ch 11 - Second Consideration—on the Excellence of Virtue.
Part 5 Ch 12 - The Example of the Saints.
Part 5 Ch 13 - The Love which Jesus Christ bears to us.
Part 5 Ch 14 - The Eternal Love of God for us.
Part 5 Ch 15 - General Affections which should result from these Considerations…
Part 5 Ch 16 - The Impressions which should remain after this Exercise.
Part 5 Ch 17 - An Answer to Two Objections which may be made to this Book.
Part 5 Ch 18 - Three Important and Final Counsels.