Introduction to the Devout LifeA contemporary selection of Catholic classics, curated for the modern reader by Our Sunday Visitor in the spirit of our founder, Archbishop John Francis Noll. |
Contents
How to Maintain Purity | |
On Poverty of Spirit in the Midst of Riches | |
How to Exercise Real Poverty Although Actually Rich | |
How to Possess a Rich Spirit in Real Poverty | |
On Friendship Evil and Frivolous Friendship | |
On Flirtatious Attachments | |
On Real Friendship | |
The Difference Between True and False Friendship | |
A Short Method of Meditation | |
Invocation | |
Representing the Mystery to Be Meditated to Your Imagination | |
Considerations | |
The Conclusion and Spiritual Bouquet | |
Some Useful Hints for Meditation | |
Concerning Dryness in Meditation | |
Morning Prayer | |
Evening Prayer and Examination of Conscience | |
On Spiritual Retirement | |
Aspirations Short Prayers and Holy Thoughts | |
Of Holy Communion and How to Join in | |
Of the Other Public Offices of the Church | |
How the Saints Are United to | |
How to Hear and Read Gods Word | |
How to Receive Inspirations | |
On Confession | |
On Frequent Communion | |
How to Receive Communion | |
Part III | |
How to Select That Which We Should Chiefly Practice | |
The Same Subject Continued | |
On Patience | |
On Greater Humility | |
On Interior Humility | |
Humility Makes Us Rejoice in Our Own Abjection | |
How to Combine Due Care for a Good Reputation with Humility | |
Gentleness with Others and Remedies Against Anger | |
On Gentleness with Ourselves | |
Attend to the Business of Life Carefully but Without Eagerness or Anxiety | |
On Obedience | |
On Purity | |
Remedies Against Evil Friendships | |
Further Advice About Friendship | |
On the Practice of Bodily Mortification | |
On Society and Solitude | |
On Modesty in Dress | |
On Conversation and First How to Speak About | |
On Unseemly Words and the Respect Due to Others | |
On Hasty Judgments | |
On Slander | |
Further Counsels on Conversation | |
On Amusements and Recreations What Are Permissible | |
On Forbidden Amusements | |
On Dances and Other Permissible but Dangerous Amusements | |
When to Use Such Amusements Properly | |
We Must Be Faithful in Great and Small Matters | |
Of a WellBalanced Reasonable Mind | |
On Wishes | |
Counsels to Married People | |
The Sanctity of the Marriage | |
Advice to Widows | |
One Word to Maidens | |
Part IV | |
We Must Not Trifle with the Words of Worldly Wisdom | |
The Need for Good Courage | |
On Temptations The Difference Between Experiencing Them and Consenting to Them | |
Two Striking Illustrations of the Same | |
Encouragement for the Tempted Soul | |
When Temptation and Delight Are | |
Remedies for Great Occasions | |
How to Resist Minor Temptations | |
How to Remedy Minor Temptations | |
How to Strengthen the Heart Against Temptation | |
Anxiety of Mind | |
Of Sadness and Sorrow | |
Of Spiritual and Sensible Consolations and How to Receive Them | |
Of Dryness and Spiritual Barrenness | |
An Illustration | |
Part V | |
Exercises for Yearly Renewal of Good Resolutions | |
Meditation on the Benefit God Grants Us in Calling Us to His Service | |
Examination of the Souls Progress in the Devout Life | |
Examination of the Souls Condition as Regards | |
Examination of Your Condition as Regards Yourself | |
Examination of the Souls Condition as Regards Our Neighbor | |
Examination of the Souls Inclinations | |
The Affections Following This Examination | |
Reflections for the Renewal of Good Resolutions Chapter 10 First Consideration Of the Worth of Souls | |
Second Consideration On the Excellence of Virtue | |
Third Consideration The Example of the Saints | |
Fourth Consideration The Love Jesus Christ Has for | |
Fifth Consideration The Eternal Love of God for | |
General Affections That Should Result from These Considerations and Conclusion of the Exercise | |
Impressions That Should Remain After This Exercise Chapter 17 An Answer to Two Objections That Might Be Made to This Book | |
Three Important and Final Counsels | |
Notes | |
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Common terms and phrases
abjection accept Affections and Resolutions amid angels better blessed called Catherine of Siena Chapter charity child Church confession consent consolations counsel dangerous daughter dear Lord delight desire despise diligently earthly eternal evil faithful father faults fear forever Francis de Sales friendship fruit gentleness give glory God’s grace Gregory Nazianzen hand heart heaven heavenly hinder holy honey honor humble humility husband imagination imperfections inspirations Jesus Christ live Lord’s means meditation mercy mind mortal sin neighbor never obedience one’s ourselves passion perfection pious poor poverty practice praise pray prayer precious purity remedy sacraments Saint Augustine Saint Bernard Saint Charles Borromeo Saint Francis Saint Jerome Saint Monica Saint Paul Savior seek sins slander Song Song of Solomon soul speak spiritual strive sure sweetness take pleasure temptation things thoughts trifling troubled true devotion turn vanity venial venial sins virtue widow words worldly