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SALESIAN LITERATURE
FRANCIS DE SALES
Author: Dirk Koster OSFS
Published by Bert Post, Noorden, The Nederlands (2000)
ISBN: 90 70376 25 3
This book tells the story of Francis de Sales' life. He lived from August 21, 1567 until December 28, 1622 - a tarnished period of religious wars, excessive luxury and poverty-stricken farmers.
That environment was part and parcel of Francis' life. He was a modest man who radiated kindness. The secret of his life was his friendship, an inexhaustible love that started in God and flowed towards everybody. His numerous letters are witnesses thereof.
He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church and he became the patron saint of journalists and writers. People still feel attracted to his charming friendliness and several religious communities live in his spirit up to this day.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Introduction to the English Edition of Francis de Sales
1. Childhood Years: 1567-1578
The iconoclasm
The Family de Sales
Françoise de Sionnaz
The Ecclesiastical Marriage
The Birth of Francis
The first years
The unrest of the time
At school in La Roche and Annecy
Plans for Francis' future
2. Study in Paris: 1578-1588
On his way to the big city
Francis starts his studies
The Song of Songs
Crisis
The end of studies and return
3. Law Study in Padua
Travelling to Padua
His Law Study
Amiable optimism!
Taking leave of Padua and homecoming
4. Choice and Priesthood: 1592-1594
Coming home
The Bride
Francis’ expectations
Antoine Favre and the appointment as Senator
Francis is hesitant
Francis becomes Provost
The decisive conversation
Francis prepares for his ordination as priest
The Priestly Ordination
5. Missionary in the Chablais: 1594-1598
Installation as provost
The situation in the Chablais
Francis offers to go
Travelling to Les Allinges
Preaching in Thonon
A harsh winter and complications
Controversies
The first fruits
The political situation takes a positive turn
His visits to de Bèze
Catholicism is professed more freely
Francis is asked to become Coadjutor
The political reversal of fortunes in the Chablais becomes permanent
6. Francis as Coadjutor: 1598-1602
Journey to Rome
Coadjutor in Annecy
The French King in Annecy
Lenten sermons in Annecy and the death of his father
Complications in the land of Gex
Second sojourn in Paris
Particular experiences
7. Francis becomes Bishop: 1602-1604
Preparations
Ordination as Bishop
Geneva, diocese in exile
How Francis became a bishop
His first year
Treatises of the first year
To Gex, the French part of his diocese
First synod
His daily routine
Lenten sermons in Dijon
First meeting with Jane de Chantal
The meeting in St. Claude
Letters after their meeting
The mature Francis
8. The Visitation of his Diocese: 1605-1608
The visits ad limina
The visitation of his diocese
9. Francis and his Family
His duties as the eldest of the family
Gallois
Louis
Jean-François
Gasparde
Bernard
Janus
Jeanne
10. Growing friendship between Francis and Jane
Meeting in the castle of Sales, 1605
The warmth of their friendship
Meeting in Annecy 1607
The plan for a new congregation
Marriage plans for Marie-Aimée de Chantal
Jane's longer sojourn in Annecy, 1609
11. The Introduction to the Devout Life
Origins
The first edition and the following
His book makes him famous
What does the Philothea mean to us today?
The surprises of the Philothea
His book makes him famous
What does the Philothea mean to us today?
The surprises of the Philothea
12. The Florimontane Academy: 1607-1610
Devout humanism
The Académie Florimontane
The gifted Baranzano
13. The beginnings of the Visitation: 1610-1611
Jane tells about her plans
Jane obtains permission to go
Death of Charlotte de Chantal and Mother de Boisy
Taking leave of her father-in-law and father
Last preparations before the Visitation begins
The last night and the last day
The Visitation's beginnings
The first profession
14. Francis de Sales, Bishop
Francis in his bishop's residence
Regular days
Church and state intermingled
The families de Nemours and de Sales
The outburst
Marceline de Bellot
Poverty and revolt
The farmers' revolt in Seyssel
An embittered Canon
15. Further Growth of the Visitation
Francis and his Sisters
His Spiritual Conferences
Rapid growth
A new monastery
A first new foundation in France?
Mgr. de Marquemont's letter
Francis' answer
Francis' battle for an open Visitation
The final form of the Visitation
How did it continue?
Margaret Mary Alacoque
16. Detachment
Father Francis ill and Mother de Chantal in retreat
Letter by Mother de Chantal, the 18th of May
Letter by Francis, the 18th of May
Reply by Mother de Chantal, the 18th of May
Francis' next letter, the 19th of May
Letter by Francis, the 21st of May
Last letter by Mother de Chantal, the 21st of May
Last reply by Francis, the 21st of May
The final glow of their love
17. The Treatise on the Love of God
A book about love
The fruit of his love for the Sisters
Foreword to the Theotimus
The conversations
Images and tales
The heart of Jesus
Theotimus's greatest treasure
The ninth book of the Theotimus
Desire nothing, refuse nothing
The vaults
Reading the Theotimus
18. The Eventful Year: 1616
The Duke of Nemours in revolt
Death of Bernard de Sales and Marie-Aimée de Chantal
Celse-Benigne
Françoise marries
19. La Sainte Maison in Thonon
Centre of Science
The ambitious plans
Insoluble problems
20. For the third time to Paris: 1618-1619
Dependent on the Duke of Savoy
Francis as a Bishop-envoy
The entrance of Francis and Antoine Favre
The marriage takes place
A half year of delayed departure
Encounters in Paris
Attempts to keep Francis in Paris
The Visitation in Paris
Departure from Paris
21. Angélique Arnaud
First encounter
Francis becomes her friend and guide
Meetings with Mother de Chantal
22. The Last Years: 1619-1622
Jean-François, Princess Christine's great-chaplain
Jean-Francois becomes bishop and comes back to Annecy
Letters to Mother de Chantal
Letters to other sisters
The year 1620
The year 1621
His last year 1622
Mother Chantal goes to Dijon
Francis going to the Feuillants
Francis for a short time at Annecy
Francis takes his leave from the family
To Lyons
In Avignon
Back in Lyons, his last 29 days
The talk with Mother de Chantal
Christmas
December 26
December 27
December 28
December 29
Mother de Chantal
Back to Annecy
The last conversation
Epilogue
How does the spirit of Francis de Sales live on?
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