SALESIAN LITERATURE

St.Francis de Sales:

The Man, the Thinker, His Influence

(Vol - 1)

Author: EJ Lajeunie OP

Bangalore, India: SFS Publications, 1986


St. Francis De Sales: The Man, The Thinker, His Influence is the fruit of an immense labour of research and reflection. Using unpublished manuscripts the author has drawn the synthesis of a wealth of materials which he collected for more than 30 years. He reveals to us, the holiness of St. Francis de sales, his optimism, his kindness, his powerful gentleness, his serene intelligence, his radiant personality and how these characteristics stemmed from his faith and love of God. The holiness of the Saint was outward-going and all-conquering.

Fr. Lajeunie presents in this monumental work, the best existing scientific study in English, a fresh picture of the saint with valuable sources and information. It contains cross-currents and synthesis of Ignatian, Franciscan, French and Spanish Spirituality.

Original Title in French:

Saint François de Sales, L’homme, la Pensee, l’action

Paris, 1964

Table of Contents


Preface to the English Edition

Introduction to the French Edition

Foreword

Volume / Part I:

Personal Vocation

Chapter 1: The Imprint of Savoy


I. The Rise of the de Sales Family

  • The Sales Hamlet in Thorens

  • The Lords of Sales

  • The Rise of the Sales Fortune

  • French-speaking Savoy

  • M. de Nouvelles in France

  • The de Sales and the Duke of Savoy

  • The Establishment of the de Sales Family

  • The de Sales Family and the Duke of Nemours

II. The Younger Years of Francis

  • The Birth of Francis

  • The Question of the Holy Shroud

  • The Baptism

  • The First Influence

  • An Early Outline of His Character

  • Human Relations

  • A Virile Education

III. First Contacts with Humanism

  • La Roche (1573-1575)

  • Annecy College (1575-1578)

  • Humanism in Savoy

IV. Catholic Reaction

  • Francis' contact with la Virtu

  • The Catholic Reaction in Savoy

  • The Catholicism of the de Sales

  • The Birth of Devotion

  • The Great Book of Nature

  • The Power of Example

  • Choosing God

Chapter II: Battle in Paris


I: The Humanist

  • The Departure

  • On the Way to Paris

  • Clermont College

  • The Citadel of Papism

  • School Schedules and Masters

  • The Humanist Jesuits

  • The Humanist

II: The Crisis of Humanism

  • Crisis in Literary Humanism

  • Humanism and Pagan Influence

  • The Reaction against the Pagan Influence

  • Humanism, Philosophy and Theology

III: The Crisis in his Devotion

  • The Canticle of Canticles

  • A Period of Fervour

  • The Struggle in Devotion

  • Possible Damnation

  • The Characteristics of his Trial

  • The Issue of the Trial

  • The Will to Serve

Chapter III: The Options in Padua


I: The Basis of Optimism

  • The Atmosphere in Padua

  • Theology: Its Sources — Its Professors

  • An Intellectual Crisis of Conscience

  • The Pessimistic Position

  • The Positions of Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Francis de Sales

  • The Import of This Optimism

  • Predestination and Merit

II: The Conquest of Chaste Love

  • Man and the World

  • The Dialectics of Chaste Love

  • The Dialectics of Infinite Love

  • Courteous Devotion

  • The Efficiency

III: The Spiritual Combat

  • The "Tratatello"

  • The Ascetics of Pure Love

  • Scupoli's principle of Distrust of Self

  • Scupolian Christocentrism

  • Heroic Pure Love

  • The Ascetics of 'Love or Death'

  • The Law as a Weapon

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