To make “love of God, the crowning point, the be-all and end-all of the universe"[1] is the most cherished dream a person can ever imagine. We can never love God whom we do not see without loving our brothers and sisters whom we do see (1 Jn 4:20). So there is only one love flowing out in abundance from the heart of God into each human heart. From each human heart it flows back to God and to every human person as our brotherly and sisterly love and friendship. So “love of God is the be- all and end-all of the universe". To realise this dream, St. Francis de Sales wrote his Treatise on the Love of God. [2] Ever since it has remained a spiritual classic inspiring thousands of humans. This Treatise is noted for its originality, sharing of intense spiritual experience, and for harmonising philosophy, theology and mysticism.
Special characteristics
Most We Can Lose The Love Of God As Long As We Are In This Mortal Life s on mysticism were written for monks, priests and religious of monastic backgrounds. St. Francis de Sales wrote his work for the whole church. To make everyone experience and overflow with an abundance of the love of God and humans was his goal. It is said that after the publication of the Treatise, when his washerman came to him, he gave him a copy of it, a clear indication of his purpose.
No doubt, many authors on mysticism have tried to harmonise contemplation and activity. This has often been done at the expense of one or the other.[3] It seems to us that St. Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life presents one of the best models of preparation for contemplation in the midst of activity. His Treatise on the Love of God, is an invitation to live a life of contemplation and activity at the same time in the midst of the world. Gratifying (affective) love leading to the heights of contemplation and benevolent (effective) love leading to an identity of wills, human and divine- acshieve a marvellous synthesis of unity and simultaneity of action and contemplation without diminishing one or the other. Hence, this Treatise is most suitable to modern times of intense activity and strain to bring about personal harmony, peace and calmness. So a new translation of the Treatise is worthwhile.
Why a new translation?
There are several reasons which prompted us to make a new translation. A complete, unabridged translation of the Treatise is not available in the “third world" countries. Even if available, it is difficult even for the middle class to pay the huge price.
The existing translations have their own advantages as well as limitations. There are two versions of the translation of the Treatise by Fr. Vincent Kerns MSFS[4]. For English language and style, his translation is the best. But even the unabridged translation is not a complete translation of the original text. Kerns leaves out those passages which he felt might not be appealing to the modern reader. Sometimes, he paraphrases or summarises certain texts. So several ordinary readers in India find it difficult to follow his translation.
The oldest available work, an unabridged translation, is that of Dom Mackey. He is faithful to the text, but his translation dates from 1884. It was republished in 1997[5] Being more than a century old, the style of this translation is rather antiquated.
There is another unabridged translation in two volumes by Mgr. John K. Ryan published in 1963 and reprinted in 1975[6]. It is a good translation, faithful to the French text. But in the process he often uses an English word corresponding to the French, rather than translating it. Sometimes, sentences are quite long. Last but not least, many of our readers in India have found it difficult to follow and so not appealing.
The origins of our translation
In the 1980’s, we requested the publishers of the Introduction to the Devout life either to republish the existing translation or allow us to do it. No attention was paid to our request. Fr. Armind came to Vinayalaya, Bangalore, to attend the Salesian Seminar. Fr. Antony told him about this problem. Then Fr.Armind suggested, “Why do we not make a new translation?" Thus the first translation of the Introduction in India came to be[7] . The readers, besides welcoming and appreciating the new translation began requesting us to make a new translation of the Treatise on the Love of God.
Encouraged by the response of Catholics in India, we planned to make a new translation of the Treatise. On 12th October 1999, Fr. Armind made a plan and divided the different Books of the Treatise among us for translation. The copy of this plan remained with us but nothing could be done due to various ministries assigned to us.
After the General Chapter of 2001, the newly elected Superior General Fr. Agnelo Fernandes asked us to work on the translation. We found ourselves in post-capitular commissions. A year or so later, Fr.Agnelo asked us how far we had reached with our translation. He was told of the various duties assigned to the translators and the difficulties they experienced. A sabbatical year would expedite the work. Then the Superior General told us: “St. Francis de Sales wrote the Treatise in the midst of his manifold activities. Do the translation in the same spirit." It was in this spirit that the translators have undertaken this task.
Treatise on the Love of God in One Volume
The treatise on the Love of God has been a source of constant inspiration for growth in prayer, love and surrender to God. The First Volume of the Treatise containing Books I - V was released in 2009 and the Second Volume containing Books VI - XII in 2011. The Treatise Vol. 1 was exhausted even before the translation of Vol. 2 was completed. Even copies of Vol 2. are now getting finished.
In the meanwhile our Superior General Fr. Agnelo Fernandes MSFS had suggested that we publish the whole Treatise in One Volume. Going through the text again we had noticed that it can still be perfected. So a revision of the whole Treatise was undertaken to correct inaccuracies and inconsistencies. In translating our concern was to make it as simple and understanable as possible.
We hope that the new, revised, combined edition of the Treatise in one Volume will be of service to fan the flames of charity and divine love in human hearts, in the hearts of our Readers.
References: Biblical
1. Bible quotations are given in italics. Whenever we have taken a quotation from NRSV, we have indicated it.
2. Sometimes, the Bible quotations in the Treatise do not correspond to the NRSV or to the current English translations of the Bible. Then we have given our own translation of the French text in italics without any indication.
3. Sometimes, the numbering of the biblical verses, especially of the Psalms, does not correspond to the numbers given in the French text. So all the numerical references to the biblical verses given follow the NRSV.
Other References
4. We have not given references to other authors like Pliny, saints, philosophers and theologians.
5. What is given in square brackets are additions by the translators to make the meaning of the original text clear.
6. In the footnotes, we have given explanations wherever we thought it would be useful.
7. Sentences are purposely made short so that it is easy for the reader to follow the meaning.
It is said in French: Traduire c’est trahir- to translate is to betray. It expresses the difficulty as well as the dilemma a translator sometimes faces. We have done our best to remain faithful to the spirit of St. Francis de Sales. If we have not been up to the mark, may he forgive us. We remain open to the observations of all well-wishers and friends.
We express our whole-hearted gratitude to our Superior General Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, who showed deep interest in our work and gave constant encouragement. We thank him very specially for the beautiful Foreword he has written.
We express our sincere gratitude to Rev. Dr. David Fleming, Marianist, for going through the text of the first five Booksvery carefully, making necessary corrections and for giving valuable suggestions.
We express our deep gratitude to Fr. P.M. Joseph msfs, for going through text very carefully and making the necessary corrections and for the valuable suggestions
We are very grateful to the Rev. Mother and the Visitation Sisters of the first Monastery of the Visitation Order at Annecy, France, for giving us the necessary permission to follow the Annecy Edition Vol. IV and Vol. V containing the Treatise on the Love of God for our translation.
Our heartfelt thanks are due to Fr. Benny Koottanal msfs, Director of the Indian Institute of Spirituality (IIS) and Manager of SFS Publications for taking care of the publication of this edition.
Our sincere thanks are due to Fr. Tom Kanat msfs, the Technical Manager of SFS Publications for preparing the text and getting it printed.
We are deeply grateful to Fr. Alexander Pocetto osfs, Senior Salesian Scholar, De Sales University, USA, for his suggestions, corrections and appreciation.
We are deeply grateful to Fr. Mathew Kozuppakalam msfs, former Provincial of South-West India Province, Fr. Abraham Vettuvelil msfs, present Provincial, for their support and encouragement.
We express our deep gratitude to Fr. Mario D’Souza msfs, the former Provincial of Pune Province and to Fr. Vincent Lourduswamy msfs, the present Provincial for their support and encouragement.
For further expressions of our gratitude, kindly see Acknowledgments.
Conclusion
What thanks can we render to him who is Pure Act in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God in Trinity and Trinity in absolute unity radiating eternal light, overflowing source of divine love and life? May this volume arouse in the hearts of our readers an ever increasing delight in God bursting out into praises of this marvellous Trinity who can never be adequately praised or glorified. With St. Francis de Sales may we exclaim: “God is his own praise". May his praise resound for ever.
We pray that the hard work we have done in the midst of several other duties and occupations may foster the growth of divine love in human hearts and love for humans. Thus may it contribute to cherish the ideal of St. Francis de Sales:
All In Love
All By Love
All For Love
All Of Love
The Translators
Antony Mookenthottom, msfs
Armind Nazareth, msfs
Henry Jose Kodikuthiyil, msfs
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[1] Francis de Sales, The Love of God, A Treatise. Tr, Vincent Kerns, Westminster: The Newman Press, 1962,p.401(hereafter TLG).
[2] Oeuvres de Saint Francois de Sales,Traite De l’Amour de Dieu, Vol. I & Vol.11, Annecy: Imprimerie J.Nierat, 1942. (hereafter AE IV& V etc...). Saint Francois de Sales. Oeuvres, par Andre Ravier et Roger Devos, Paris: Gallimard, Bibliotheque de la Pleiade, 1969. (hereafter Pleiade).
[3] A.M. Goicho. Contemplative Life in the World, Tr. M.A.Bouchard. London; B. Herder Book Co., 1958. See also The Bhagavad-Gita, R.C, Zaehner, Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1969.
[4] Francis de Sales, The Love of God A Treatise, Translated and abridged, Vincent Kerns,Bangalore: SFS Publications, 1981.
[5] Francis de Sales, Treatise on the Love of God, Tr. Henry Benedict Mackey. Rockford: Tan Books and Publishers. 1997.
[6] Francis de Sales, Treatise on the Love of God. Tr. John K. Ryan,Vol. I & II. Rockford: Tan Books and Publishers., 1975.
[7] Francis de Sales, Introduction To The Devout Life. Tr. Armind Nazareth, Antony Mookenthottam, Antony Kolencherry. Bangalore: SFS