{"title":"St. Francis de Sales","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"philothea-or-an-introduction-to-the-devout-life","title":"An Introduction to the Devout Life, St Francis De Sales, Michael Day","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2011 Reprint of 1956 Edition Translated by Michael Day at The Newman Press. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFull facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Introduction to the Devout Life\" is the most popular Catholic \"self-help\" book of all time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e First published in the early 17th century, it has proven its value as a daily spiritual guide and helpful reference for living an authentic Christian life. Written specifically for laymen, it began as letters from Saint Francis to a married woman who was seeking holiness amidst the distractions of her life of wealth and status. It contains treasures of wisdom for every reader, from eager beginner to lifelong Christian. Devout life does not require withdrawal from the world. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis was the central insight of Saint Francis de Sales, a 16th-century priest whose \"Introduction to the Devout Life\" has not gone out of print in almost four centuries. Francis served the church at a dangerous time in a dangerous place: during the Reformation, in Calvinist areas of France, when celebrating mass was punishable by death. He was a popular minister and a prolific letter writer whose correspondence was cherished for its clear and direct instruction in the ways of piety. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book collects passages from many of those letters, organized as one message addressed to the allegorical character Philothea (which means \"lover of God\"). The book includes long sections about prayer, temptation, and how to maintain and renew devotion to God. But it is most distinguished by its discussion of how to live a holy life in the secular world. Each chapter (such as \"How to Combine Due Care for a Good Reputation with Humility\") is frank, uncannily modern, and precise. --Michael Joseph Gross\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"IP-LS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39409790058562,"sku":"9781614271499","price":26.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/9405\/2162\/products\/an-introduction-to-the-devout-life-st-francis-de-sales-michael-day-free-delivery-462775.jpg?v=1707304163"},{"product_id":"the-spiritual-maxims-of-st-francis-de-sales","title":"The Spiritual Maxims of St. Francis de Sales","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDuring his life, Francis de Sales had a gift for giving spiritual direction to lay people living ordinary lives in the world. He firmly believed that everyone could grow in holiness, even while engaged in very active occupations, and his books and volumes of letters addressing this need remain beloved works to this day. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhat is the secret of their longstanding value? It is the intimacy and at the same time practicality of the saint’s direction -- for he speaks to us person to person. We recognize ourselves in what is said because he speaks of those things that each of us has experienced. This collection of maxims and sayings gathered from his many pages of spiritual counsel are words of advice that every friend of St. Francis has always been fond of repeating -- words that serve as means of encouragement, points for meditation, counsels, exhortations, reminders. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFor St. Francis speaks as clearly to our twenty-first century condition as he did to that of his own spiritual family.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback, 128 pages\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"IP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39950176124994,"sku":"9781887593212","price":36.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/9405\/2162\/products\/the-spiritual-maxims-of-st-francis-de-sales-free-delivery-565089.jpg?v=1707304811"},{"product_id":"consoling-thoughts-on-trials-of-an-interior-life","title":"Consoling Thoughts on Trials of an Interior Life","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eConsoling Thoughts on Trials of an Interior Life\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSt. Francis de Sales, beloved Doctor of the Church, gives us treasured insight from the master of spiritual direction. How can the soul persevere in piety in the midst of affliction? How should we conduct ourselves when suffering interior trials? How can we profit from our own faults? St. Francis de Sales explains all this and more.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn this masterful collection, St. Francis speaks to every soul on the riches to be gained from suffering trials and temptations, the advantages we can draw from our own defects, and how to choose and carry the best crosses. Also included are uplifting passages on suffering sadness, or what we would now call depression.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaders of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eConsoling Thoughts on Trials of an Interior Life\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e will experience firsthand why St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) is known to history as the Gentle Saint. St. Francis was Bishop of Geneva and a tireless preacher, who yet made time to correspond with numerous souls who wrote him for his insight and guidance. His \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eConsoling Thoughts\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eare compiled from these letters as well as from his other spiritual works.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages:192\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"STP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40682204364866,"sku":"9780895552143","price":38.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/9405\/2162\/products\/consoling-thoughts-on-trials-of-an-interior-life-free-delivery-655475.jpg?v=1707304213"},{"product_id":"lift-up-your-heart-special-edition","title":"Lift Up Your Heart (Special Edition)","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"44\" data-end=\"391\"\u003eLift Up Your Heart (Special Edition) offers a ten-day personal retreat designed to help you encounter God in a deeper, more transformative way. Inspired by the timeless teachings of St Francis de Sales, this edition reawakens the spiritual discipline of prayer and reflection for modern readers who seek peace and direction in their daily lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"393\" data-end=\"820\"\u003eEach day presents a guided meditation, practical reflections and gentle invitations to examine the heart in light of faith. Through themes such as humility, surrender, gratitude and love of God, readers are led step by step toward inner renewal and lasting joy. The book blends classic Catholic spirituality with a warm, accessible tone that speaks to both seasoned believers and those returning to prayer after a long pause.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"822\" data-end=\"1109\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThis special edition is beautifully presented, making it ideal for individual retreats, parish groups or anyone desiring to restore balance between faith and everyday life. It encourages stillness in a busy world and invites readers to lift their hearts to God with trust and simplicity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"STP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42585330843714,"sku":"30005","price":18.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/9405\/2162\/files\/jmj.-2025-11-05T201915.564.png?v=1762334362"},{"product_id":"the-life-of-st-francis-de-sales","title":"The Life of St. Francis de Sales","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"348\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"36\"\u003eThe Life of St. Francis de Sales\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a rich and engaging portrait of one of the Church’s most beloved saints and spiritual teachers. Written with warmth and insight, this biography brings to life the gentle strength, pastoral wisdom, and deep humanity of St. Francis de Sales, whose influence continues to shape Christian spirituality today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"350\" data-end=\"773\"\u003eThrough vivid storytelling, the book traces his journey as a nobleman, priest, bishop, and writer, highlighting his patient charity, humility, and unwavering commitment to guiding souls toward holiness. It explores his missionary work, his pastoral care amid conflict, and the spiritual vision that inspired his enduring teachings, especially the conviction that holiness is attainable for everyone, in every state of life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"775\" data-end=\"998\"\u003eBoth informative and devotional, this work invites readers to discover the heart of a saint who transformed challenges into opportunities for grace, offering timeless encouragement for faith lived with gentleness and trust.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1000\" data-end=\"1045\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor\u003c\/strong\u003e: Michael de la Bedoyere\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42790787842114,"sku":"8859","price":41.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/9405\/2162\/files\/jmj.-2025-12-23T232200.858.png?v=1766492532"}],"url":"https:\/\/jmjcatholicproducts.com.au\/collections\/st-francis-de-sales.oembed","provider":"JMJ Catholic Products","version":"1.0","type":"link"}