De Sales Book Discussion Group Guides

Since its inception in 1993, the De Sales Spirituality Center run by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales has developed a number of resources for helping people to learn, live and share Salesian spirituality. Among these resources is the De Sales Discussions series: workbooks for reflection and discussion that accompany commercially published books that deal with some aspect of Salesian spirituality. Visit this resource page to find workbooks to accompany groups as they read and discuss some of the most popular books on Salesian spirituality. 

 

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Works by St. Francis de Sales

Available from Embraced by God, Stella Niagara, NY:

St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life (There are many editions—a good one is translated w/ introduction/notes by John K. Ryan. New York; Doubleday Image Book, 2003.)

Francis de Sales: Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on the Love of God (The Crossroad Spiritual Legacy Series. Wright, Wendy M. New York: Crossroad, 1993.)

St. Francis de Sales, Selected Letters (Translated, with introduction by Elizabeth Stopp. London: Faber & Faber/New York: Harper, 1960._

The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Prayer (Edited by Lewis S. Fiorelli, translated by the Nuns of the Visitation [Frances Therese Leary], with a preface by Fr. M. Basil Pennington, and introduction by Canon Henry Benedict Mackey. Sermons of St. Francis de Sales, vol. 1. Rockford, Ill.: Tan Books, 1985.)

St. Francis de Sales: A Testimony by St. Jane de Chantal (Newly edited in translation with an introduction by Elisabeth Stopp. London: Faber, 1967.)

Biography of Henri Chaumont

Henri Chaumont reduitOrder the first English biography of our founder Henri Chaumont, written by Daniel Moulinet, Priest of St. Francis de Sales (2016).

Introduction to the Devout Life Audio Book

IDL on YouTubeDid you know that you can listen to the Introduction to the Devout Life on YouTube? Wow! Thanks to Julianne Jackson of our Gulf Coast group for bringing this to our attention. Enjoy the recording here.

 

 

Comprehensive Salesian Bibliography

What follows is a comprehensive bibliography of the writings and teachings of St. Francis de Sales. Reprinted here with permission from the author, Joe Boenzi, SDB.


Saint Francis de Sales, 1567-1622:

Toward a Complete Bibliography of English-language Works

compiled by Joseph Boenzi, SDB Introduction

The following bibliography is an update for the internet of a bibliography I was able to publish in the Journal of Salesian Studies in the Spring of this year. The scope of that work was to provide English-speaking students of Salesian ministry and spirituality with a tool that would assist them access the writings and teachings of Saint Francis de Sales.

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Works on Salesian Spirituality

Available from Embraced by God, Stella Niagara, NY:

Francis de Sales, Sage and Saint (André Ravier. Translated by Joseph D. Bowler. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1988.)

Madame de Chantal: Portrait of a Saint (Elisabeth Stopp. London: Faber and Faber, 1962/Westminster, 1963.)

A Man to Heal Differences: Essays and Talks on St. Francis de Sales (Philadelphia: St. Joseph’s University Press, 1997.)

Bond of Perfection: Jeanne de Chantal and François de Sales (Wendy Wright. New York: Paulist, 1985.)

A Retreat With Francis de Sales, Jane de Chantal and Aelred of Rievaulx: Befriending Each Other in God. (Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1996.)

Live Jesus! Key Aspects of Salesian Spirituality (Lewis S. Fiorelli. Review for Religious 46.4 (July 1987): 491-501.)

Lecture Series: St. Francis de Sales and the Salesians: A Spirituality for the Modern World

Learn from the powerful model of Salesian spirituality and deepen your relationship with God and the world through this 12-part lecture series by Dr. Wendy Wright, PhD, profession of theology at Creighton University.

St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622) was born to a life of privilege, but after experiencing a profound conversion, he abandoned his wealth to devote himself to God. He went on to become a champion of the poor and a renowned preacher. Along with his spiritual friend St. Jane de Chantal, St. Francis de Sales taught the tradition of devout humanism. The Salesian tradition carries a vital message: God desires you to know and be close to him.

These 12 inspiring lectures invite you to reflect on this message, leading you to the full realization of your identity as beloved son or daughter of God. Under the guidance of one of the world’s leading Salesian spirituality experts, you will explore inspiring models in the Salesian tradition.

These lectures, along with an electronic study guide, are available for purchase here on the Now You Know Media site.

Fr. DeLillio Blog: A Moment From De Sales

Rev. Richard DeLillio, OSFS is an oblate of St. Francis de Sales. His blog, A Moment from De Sales, reflects on how the ordinary moments of our lives hold the extraordinary grace and presence of our God.
 

Follow his blog!

Salesian Organizations - Our Extended Salesian Family

St. Francis de Sales

The St. Francis de Sales Association falls under the umbrella of the France-based Society of St. Francis de Sales, which also includes the Sons of St. Francis de Sales, Priests of St. Francis de Sales and the Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate. There is a St. Francis de Sales Association website in French (visit it here), and we maintain our own site for U.S. and English-speaking visitors: www.sfdsassociation.org.

Apart from our society, there are numerous other Salesian groups inspired by the teachings of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal.

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The Way of the Cross With St. Francis de Sales

The Way of the CrossThe little booklet The Way of the Cross with Saint Francis de Sales, written by Cynthia McMullen and illustrated by Mary Delaney, was published in 2013 is now out of print.

At the request of several groups, it is available here in pdf format.

St. Jane de Chantal's Devotions

In her own words, Jane de Chantal 

"I am Your child, all Yours; good children think only of pleasing their father. I don't want to have any worries and I leave in Your care everything that concerns me, for You love me, my God. Father, You are my good. My soul rests and trusts in Your love and eternal providence." 

"O most holy will of God, I give You infinite thanks for the mercy with which You have surrounded me. With all my strength and love, I adore You from the depths of my soul and unite my will to Yours now and forever, especially in all that I shall do and all that You will be pleased to send me this day, consecrating to Your glory my soul, my mind, my body, all my thoughts, words and actions, and my whole being. I beg You, with all the humility of my heart, accomplish in me Your eternal designs, and do not allow me to present any obstacle to this. 

"Your eyes, which can see the most intimate recesses of my heart, know the intensity of my desire to live out Your holy will, but they can also see my weakness and limitations. That is why, prostrate before Your infinite mercy, I implore You, my Savior, through the gentleness and justice of this same will of Yours, to grant me the grace of accomplishing it perfectly, so that, consumed in the fire of Your love, I may be an acceptable sacrifice which will praise and bless You forever. Amen."

St. Jane's Act of Abandonment

A Rosary for Salesians

Leader:

Let us place ourselves in the presence of God

  • the God who is present in all things and in all places in creation (pause);
  • God who is especially present in our heart and in the very center of our spirit (pause);
  • God, in His humanity, who looks down upon His children from heaven, especially those at prayer (pause);
  • and God who is truly present but unseen standing next to us (pause).

All: 
My God, by the sign of your cross, deliver me from my enemies.

Leader:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the God, the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

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IDL Audio Book on YouTube

IDL on YouTubeDid you know that you can listen to the Introduction to the Devout Life on YouTube? Wow! Thanks to Julianne Jackson of our Gulf Coast group for bringing this to our attention. Enjoy the recording here.