SALESIAN LITERATURE

Love Perfect and Divine

By St.Francis de Sales

Being his Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on the Love of God

Summarised by Duncan Greenless


The Purpose of this Book . The Saint has written this book to guide the soul into the true knowledge and love of God even while living in the world. This is not an easy road to tread, it is true, yet a keen and faithful soul can live in the world without being in any way tainted by it. To such a soul who would do this, then, it is directed.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Saint Francis de Sales

Part One: THE WAY TO DEVOTION

Chapter One-How to Become a Devotee

Chapter Two-Upwards through Prayer

Chapter Three-The Practice of Virtue

Chapter Four-The Fight with Sin

Chapter Five-Making Devotion Strong

Part Two: THE LOVE OF GOD

Chapter Six-Why Should we Love God?

Chapter Seven-How Divine Love is Bom

Chapter Eight-Love Grows

Chapter Mne-What Makes Love Decline

Chapter Ten-Delight in God's Love

Chapter Eleven-Love is Enriched by Prayer

Chapter Twelve-Union with God through Prayer

Chapter Thirteen-Union through Surrender

Chapter Fourteen-Union through Joyful Suffering

Chapter Fifteen-Love Must be King

Chapter Sixteen-Love Reigns Supreme

Chapter Seventeen-Progress in Divine Love